Prabowo Pledges Free Education from Kindergarten to High School, BOS Funds to Cover Teacher Salaries

President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia has reiterated his commitment to providing free education in state schools, spanning from kindergarten to high school. This policy aims to ensure that children from all economic strata can access educational services without financial constraints. According to Abdul Mu'ti, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, the President emphasized this pledge during a limited meeting. To support this initiative, the government will rely on School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds and the Indonesia Smart Program (PIP). BOS funds are allocated for school operations, salaries of non-civil servant teachers (non-ASN), minor repairs, and extracurricular activities. PIP, on the other hand, is provided to students from underprivileged families. Mu'ti clarified that while BOS funds are disbursed to both state and private school students, the President's commitment to free education specifically targets students in state schools. Teacher compensation is also a key concern, with salaries for civil servant teachers (ASN) covered by the state budget, and non-ASN teachers paid through BOS funds. The government is also facilitating opportunities for non-ASN teachers to participate in the civil servant or PPPK selection processes. Those who do not pass can continue teaching as non-ASN, receiving their salaries from BOS funds. Furthermore, President Prabowo has called for an enhancement in teacher quality through increased training programs. Mu'ti stated that the budget for these training initiatives will be sought from the state budget. Source: VOI English