Jakarta (ANTARA) - Village Fund can be utilized to finance education in villages, Minister of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions Development, and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar, nicknamed Gus Halim, noted in a written statement received here on Friday.

Village Fund is funding from the state budget utilized for the purpose of development and empowerment of villages.

During a visit to Banaran Village, Klaten, Central Java, the minister noted that the Anak Ceria Early Childhood Education (PAUD) and Pertiwi Banaran Kindergarten had received assistance from the Village Fund.

Chief of Banaran Village Catur Widodo explained that Anak Ceria PAUD had received assistance from the Village Fund since 2015 when the regulation allowed Village Fund to be used for educational purposes.

From the Village Fund, PAUD and TK teachers received a total incentive of Rp800 thousand every month.

"In addition, Village Fund is utilized for covering PAUD and Kindergarten operational costs in accordance with what we propose," he noted.

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Headmaster of Anak Ceria PAUD and Pertiwi Banaran Kindergarten Endah Harjanti expressed gratitude over the presence of the Village Fund for helping cover the operational costs of the education institutions that she led.

At the Anak Ceria PAUD and Pertiwi Banaran Kindergarten, no student pays for the education costs.

There are also programs to bolster the students' health through nutritional intake at these institutions, such as through offering them healthy food, such as meat and eggs.

The health of every student is also routinely checked through head measurement and ear examination.

During the visit, Gus Halim also held a discussion with the village supervisors.

He urged the village supervisors to work hard in monitoring the development in villages.


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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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