Pekanbaru Program Aims to End School Dropouts by Covering Private School Fees

The Pekanbaru City Government in Indonesia has launched "Program Zero Putus Sekolah" (Zero School Dropouts Program) to ensure all children can continue their education regardless of their financial situation or the availability of spots in public schools.

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So parents don't need to worry about their children's school fees. If they don't graduate or aren't accommodated in public schools, they can enroll in private schools that have partnered with the Pekanbaru City Government, and the costs will be fully covered by the government.

The program extends free education to students attending partner private junior high schools (SMP swasta) and Islamic junior high schools (Madrasah Tsanawiyah or MTs). This initiative aims to guarantee the right to education for all school-aged children in the city.

Mayor Agung Nugroho stated that parents should not worry about school fees. If students are not accepted into public schools or cannot afford private options, the government will cover the full costs for those attending partnered institutions. "So parents don't need to worry about their children's school fees. If they don't graduate or aren't accommodated in public schools, they can enroll in private schools that have partnered with the Pekanbaru City Government, and the costs will be fully covered by the government," Nugroho said.

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No child in Pekanbaru City should fail to continue their education solely due to financial constraints or not being accommodated in public schools.

Currently, 23 private junior high schools and 15 MTs are collaborating with the city government. This program is a tangible implementation of the city's priority to improve human resource quality and addresses the issue of limited capacity in public schools each year. The city government has integrated these partner schools into its new student admission system.

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The point is, no child in Pekanbaru should be out of school. We provide the pathways, we provide the schools, and we cover the costs. That is the 'Zero School Dropouts Program' that we are implementing.