Jakarta – Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo is proposing a program called "1 Keluarga Miskin 1 Sarjana" (one undergraduate for one poor family) that will provide more opportunities for children of poor families, people with disabilities or special needs and people who live in remote regions to pursue their education at university.
The expansion of education access is expected to give the children a decent education to improve their welfare.
"The 20 percent education budget of the state budget and regional budget can be concentrated there [in the program] so that it can be invested in preparing the demographic bonus, as well as liberating people from poverty," said Ganjar during his campaign in Sukoharjo regency, Central Java on Tuesday, as quoted by the Antara state news agency.
Ganjar said that the government had initiated various means to overcome poverty, such as direct cash aid (BLT), the Family Hope Program (PKH), health insurance and education insurance. However, according to Ganjar, the problem of poverty persists.
"So there are several things that I did when I was Central Java governor for 10 years. I tried to visit and research why we have to invest in education to reach the future," said Ganjar, as quoted by Kompas.com.
According to Ganjar, the program was prompted by his personal experience of having financial difficulties in continuing his studies. Furthermore, his parents once got involved with loan sharks so their children could attend college. His parents also sold gasoline in order to make a living for their family.
"So, when this political mandate [as the country's president] is given, I am determined to fight poverty. We fight poverty together so that our lives can be better," he said.
Indonesia has struggled to develop its education sector and grow its small pool of competitive and educated talent, despite annually allocating 20 percent of state funds to education.
For the 2024 state budget allocation for education, the Finance Ministry has set aside Rp 660.8 trillion.