Malang (Antara Babel) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) distributed one thousand Indonesian Smart Cards (KIP) at the Education Office of Malang, East Java Province.
"It is so great today to meet all of you, my children, and we have handed over one thousand KIP in Malang City. Please raise your card because I want to count it, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and a thousand," he noted here on Wednesday.
Jokowi attended the card distribution event along with Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Agriculture and Spatial Planning Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education Muhamad Nasir, member of the Presidential Advisory Council Sidarto, East Java Governor Soekarwo, and Mayor of Malang M. Anton.
Of the one thousand KIP distributed, 189 cards were handed out to elementary school (SD) students, 218 cards were delivered to junior high school (SMP) students, 213 cards were distributed to senior high school (SMA) students, and 311 cards were accepted by vocational high school (SMK) students.
"I am so glad that the equivalency program is being carried out today. Hence, a SD student receives Rp450 thousand, a SMP student receives Rp750 thousand, and a SMA/SMK student gets Rp1 million, while a student who participates in the equivalence program of package A receives the same amount of assistance as an elementary student gets, a student of the equivalence program of packet B receives assistance as a junior high school student gets, and a student who follows the equivalence program of packet C receives the same assistance as a SMA student gets. It is sufficient, isn't it? Those who say it is not enough, please step forward," he explained.
The president also reminded that the assistance will be used solely for meeting school needs, such as for buying books, uniforms, shoes, and bags, and it should not be used to top up the balance of cell phones.
"We want all SD students who receive KIP to graduate and continue their studies in SMP and then go to SMA/SMK. I hope all students continue to learn in order to achieve their ambitions," he emphasized.
"I hope all students study diligently. Since students have received KIP, they can use the assistance to meet their school needs. Hence, the students must concentrate on learning to achieve their ambitions. In the next 10, 20, or 30 years, the competition will get tougher, both in seeking higher education and also for jobs. Thus, children should be responsible to continue the learning process. Do not get tired of learning," he said while ending his speech.
