Smart Indonesia Program is aimed at increasing primary and secondary education enrollment rates by providing cash transfers to all school-aged children who are enrolled and receive Smart Indonesian Cards (KIP). The implementation of this program has given the positive result to the school participation rate in Papua Province.
The Government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Education and Culture organized the Smart Indonesia Program. The program is aimed at increasing primary and secondary education enrollment rates, reducing dropout rates, reducing education participation gaps, and increasing the readiness of middle students to enter the workforce or higher education.
Smart Indonesia Program is implemented by providing cash transfers to all school-aged children who are enrolled and receive Smart Indonesian Cards (KIP). The amount of funding provided for elementary school level is Rp450,000 per year, Rp750,000 per year for junior high school level, and Rp1000.000 for senior high school level.
In Papua alone, Smart Indonesia Card is directly distributed by President Joko Widodo. “Giving this KIP Card to prepare our children to be able to compete in the global world,” said President Joko Widodo in Kampung Skow, Muara Tami District, Jayapura City.
In Kampung Skow, 392 students received Smart Indonesia Card, consisting of 100 Primary School (SD) students, six Extraordinary School students, 63 Junior High School students (SMP), 92 Senior High School (SMA) students, 89 School students Secondary Vocational (SMK), and 42 students of Equivalency Education. (Ministry of Education and Culture)
President Joko Widodo also reminded Papuan parents not to abuse the cash for this education aid, “No money can be used except for school fees. If Mace (mother) took KIP money for five hundred thousand rupiah, then Pace (Father) asked for a hundred thousand to buy cigarettes may not? Of course Mace should not have to explain if this money for school children, but can be used to increase business capital, so that family income increases, “said President. (Ministry of Education and Culture)
Febby Andriani Mallo, an elementary school student of Inpres Komabo who received KIP directly from the President revealed his plan with KIP aids “Febby will use to buy passport books (textbooks) to study in the classroom. It buys his book every semester, for the preparation of the sixth grade exam. Febby also likes to read books. A day can be up to two books Febby read. Later Febby want to buy books with KIP money. “(Kompas)
Persentage of School Participation in Papua Province 2010 and 2016
The KIP program in Papua has been implemented since 2015. In 2015 alone, the funds already disbursed reached 10.3 billion rupiah, while the funds in 2016 amounted to 4.5 billion rupiah. In its implementation, the Smart Indonesia Program has succeeded in increasing the percentage of school participation in Papua. In 2010, enrollment rate of primary (SD) schools only reached 76.22%, in 2016 rose to 81.11%; the participation of Junior High School student in the first year of 2010 74.35 and in 2016 rose to 78.86%, at the level Senior High School, participation in 2010 amounted to 48.28 which then rose in the number 62.07% in 2016. (Central Bureau of Statistics, 2010 and 2016)
Keyword: West Papua, Papua Province, education program, Indonesia, Smart Indonesia Program, Smart Indonesia Card, Kampung Skow, Jayapura, Muara Tami, Ministry of Education and Culture, persentage of School Participation.
