Alleged Violation of East Java Governor’s Free Tuition Policy: SMAN 1 Loceret Responds to SPP and Building Fee Reports

Reporter: SYT
Editor: Kenzo _
Editorial: AswinNews.com | Sharp, Accurate, Reliable, Balanced, and Always Updated

Nganjuk, AswinNews.com — Allegations of unauthorized fees under the guise of sumbangan pembinaan pendidikan (SPP) — or educational development contributions — continue to surface in several public high schools in Nganjuk Regency. One such case was reported at SMAN 1 Loceret, where students are reportedly still being charged monthly tuition fees and building contributions.

According to findings by AswinNews.com, the Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, who has served two terms, had issued a public reminder in 2020 urging citizens to report any public senior high (SMA) or vocational high school (SMK) that still collected SPP. The Governor, alongside the Head of the East Java Education Agency, had affirmed that SPP was officially abolished and that any educational donations must be voluntary.

In previous media reports, Governor Khofifah stated clearly:

“The free SPP program has been running since 2019. Schools are prohibited from collecting any tuition fees. Everything is free and this policy applies throughout East Java.”

Despite these directives, on Monday, June 2, 2025, a student from SMAN 1 Loceret informed AswinNews.com that the school still collects Rp70,000 per month in SPP, in addition to a building fee of Rp1,000,000 per student. The student, a member of the 11th grade, made the statement hastily while on the way home, leaving little room for follow-up.

In response to the report, AswinNews.com reached out to school officials to confirm the accuracy of the student’s claims. On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the school’s public relations officer, Huda, responded on behalf of the principal.

“We do not deny the existence of SPP and building fees,” Huda said. “However, the fees are managed entirely by the school’s committee. The school merely proposes changes, and the committee implements them.”

When asked whether the school committee enforces strict deadlines for these payments, Huda clarified that while there is a fee structure, the school provides payment flexibility.

“There’s no strict due date. Students from underprivileged backgrounds can even be exempted entirely. They just need to obtain a recommendation letter (disposisi) from their village office.”

On whether the school and committee were aware of the Governor’s directive regarding free SPP, Huda admitted they were, but emphasized that local-level deliberation is still needed for proper implementation.

“We are aware of Governor Khofifah’s policy, but implementing it requires mutual agreement and discussion at the school level.”

The situation has reignited concerns over the enforcement of educational policies, particularly in regions where committee-managed contributions blur the line between voluntary support and unofficial tuition.

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