VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian President Joko Widodo discussed various education programs when delivering information from the government on the 2019 Draft Law on the State Budget (RAPBN) before the General Assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR). In 2019, the education budget is planned to be at Rp. 478.9 trillion. This education investment becomes important because it is part of improving the quality of human resources. According to President Jokowi, in the five-year period from 2014-2019, there were around 27 thousand people who received scholarships for the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP) throughout the country. Another interesting thing is that when Jokowi said next year there would be 400 thousand more Bidikmisi Scholarship recipients for those from disadvantaged groups.

"In 2019, the Government will provide scholarships to 20.1 million students through the Smart Indonesia Program and 471.8 thousand students through the Bidik Misi scholarship. In addition, in the 2014-2019 period, the Government also invested through the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP) by providing scholarships to around 27 thousand students from all over the country to continue their masters and doctor degree at the best universities in Indonesia and abroad, as well as financing 123 selected research contracts," President Joko Widodo said.

In addition, according to President Jokowi, the state spending on education in 2019 will also be directed to strengthen the school operational costs (BOS) program for 57 million students, improve the quality of civil servant and non-civil servant teachers through professional allowances, and accelerate school development and rehabilitation. In addition, it is also aimed at building 1,407 practice rooms at Vocational Schools and assistance for training or certification of 3,000 students, strengthening more massive and integrated vocational programs across ministries, as well as the construction of classroom and laboratory facilities for 1,000 Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). (VOI/REZHA/AHM)