Central Java expands free education via private school partnerships

As Central Java approaches its 81st anniversary, the provincial government has expanded educational access for underprivileged students through its Partnership School Program. To address the limited capacity of state schools, the government has partnered with 139 private institutions, including 56 high schools (SMA) and 83 vocational schools (SMK).

For the 2026/2027 academic year, the program targets students from low-income families categorized within Deciles 1 to 4 of the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN). A total of 3,676 students have been accepted through this partnership, an increase from the 2,390 students in the previous year. The government provides an annual aid of Rp2 million per student, with a total program capacity of 5,004 seats.

In addition to the partnership program, the province provides 231,724 seats in state-run SMA, SMK, and special education schools (SLB), covering approximately 40.83 percent of expected junior high school graduates. These state seats exempt students from operational costs, including tuition, textbooks, and certain extracurricular activities.