Jakarta expands smart card for college subsidies

Jakarta will use smart cards to give out university scholarships later this year, Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama has announced.

Students from Jakarta will get IDR 18 million (US$1,352) from the government to attend any public university in the country. This money can be used to cover tuition fees and university-related daily expenses.

Education is one of the biggest expenses for the Jakarta government and has to be closely monitored.

Students and their families have been found to misuse their cash subsidies in the past. The smart cards are linked to holders’ identity details to ensure the money is used only for education.

“With the program, we hope to make quality education accessible to everyone, it will even stimulate children to keep studying hard and KJP [Jakarta Smart Card] students will not be discouraged because we will provide them with the money,” the Governor said.

The card was first introduced to school students by the Governor in 2012. It is now being used by 531,0007 students.