“The district government is making efforts to ease the burden on parents,” Penajam Paser Utara district head Mudyat Noor said on Monday when asked about the education assistance program in Penajam.
“The Penajam Smart Card is being implemented this year and will continue to be improved to ensure that no school-aged children are unable to continue their education due to financial constraints,” he added.
In the initial phase this year, the Penajam Smart Card program is expected to benefit approximately 6 thousand new students at the elementary and junior high school levels.
The distribution of the cards will be carried out in cooperation with Bankaltimtara (Bank of East and North Kalimantan).
To be eligible for the program, applicants must not be beneficiaries of the central government’s Smart Indonesia Card program or other similar education assistance programs.
The draft district head regulation that will serve as the legal framework for the implementation of the Penajam Smart Card is currently being reviewed by the legal division of the Regional Secretariat of the district government and is being evaluated by the East Kalimantan provincial government.
The district government aims to officially launch the program and begin distributing the Penajam Smart Card to new students from August 17, 2025.
“The regulation will specify that priority will be given to new students from low-income families,” Mudyat Noor further explained.
The district government is also aligning the Penajam Smart Card program with the national Smart Indonesia Card initiative to ensure there is no overlap between the national and district beneficiaries.
Funded by the Penajam Paser Utara district budget (APBD), the Penajam Smart Card funds can be used to purchase school uniforms and other school-related necessities.
The smart card is part of the district’s broader efforts to reduce the financial burden on parents, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that no child in the Penajam Paser Utara district is denied education due to lack of financial resources, Noor said.
Related news: Indonesia begins 2025 rice aid for 18 million low-income families
Related news: BP Taskin prepares vocational training for low-income families
Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
