Depok City Workers Hold Demonstration for Better Education

SPNNews, Depok City, July 19, 2024

The Depok Labor Forum, together with the Depok City Community Association (DKR) and the Depok City community organization “Kapok”, held a protest in front of the Depok mayor’s office, demanding  improvements in both the quality and quantity of education in the city. The protest was led by Wido Pratikno, SH.

The protest was sparked by the expulsion of 51 prospective high school students from a school in Depok, and the large number of children in the city located to the south of Indonesia’s largest city Jakarta who have not been able to secure a place in any high school. The Depok Labor Forum, DKR, and Kapok Depok voiced their demands out front of Depok’s mayoral office and continued their protest on to the Depok city hall (DPRD).

Change

In their speeches, Wido Pratikno, SH., along with the leader of DKR Depok, Roy, the head of Kapok, Kasno, and Mohamad Sholeh from the Depok Labor Forum, called on city leaders to make changes. Wido Pratikno, SH, condemned the New Student Admission System (PPDB), demanded the establishment of new high schools, and called for the abolition of the PPDB system. Roy, the leader of DKR Depok reminded city authorities there are already been protests at a particular high school, the Presidential Palace, and the mayor’s office.

Wages

The head of community organisation Kapok, called for ongoing provision of data and for the proper use of BOS funds. Mohamad Sholeh from the Depok Labor Forum highlighted that labor wages are still too low, emphasized that school fees are excessively high, pointed out the difficulty in finding jobs, and stated that workers are the largest contributors to the city budget (APBD).

Differences

During the demonstration, speakers highlighted the stark difference between the number of public high schools in Jakarta and Depok. Jakarta, with a population of 9 million, has 116 public high schools, while Depok, with a population of 3 million, has only 15. They demanded that Depok have 35 to 40 public high schools to meet adequate educational needs.

Wido Pratikno SH. emphasized that the mayor cannot hide behind government regulations regarding the management of high schools which are at the provincial level. The mayor must be responsible for ensuring that Depok residents receive a proper education.

Although the protest did not achieve its goals, organizers promised to continue their fight with an even larger number of participants. The Depok Labor Forum consists of a number of labor unions, including, the National Workers Union (SPN), the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers Unions (FSPMI), KAMIFARHO, the Chemical, Energy & Mining Workers Union (SP KEP SPSI), LEM SPSI, SP KEP KSPI, and FARKES. (SN-24)

This article is based on https://spn.or.id/buruh-kota-depok-gelar-aksi-solidaritas-tuntut-kualitas-dan-kuantitas-pendidikan/

In related news:

• https://elshinta.com/news/342343/2024/07/18/guru-honorer-disarankan-ikut-seleksi-pppk
• https://banten.bpk.go.id/temuan-bpk-dana-bos-rp-11-miliar-bermasalah/
• https://disdik.jakarta.go.id/article/2758-disdik-dki-buka-suara-soal-ratusan-guru-yang-mengalami-proses-cleansing-data
• https://www.idntimes.com/travel/destination/fasrinisyah-suryaningtyas-1/tempat-wisata-depok-terbaru