Mayor Munjirin Hands Over 297 Diplomas to Underprivileged Residents

East Jakarta Mayor Munjirin handed over 297 school diplomas to underprivileged residents on Wednesday (5/6). These diplomas had previously been withheld by schools due to unpaid tuition arrears.

Some of these diplomas had been withheld for one to seven years

Munjirin stated that the handover serves as a special gift for East Jakarta residents in celebration of National Education Day (Hardiknas).

According to him, owning an original diploma is a major aspiration for many residents. However, quite a few have faced financial hurdles during their school years, leading to their diplomas being held by the institutions.

1,238 Diplomas Distributed Under Phase IV of Diploma Amnesty Program

"Please use and take care of these diplomas as best as possible. This certificate is your stepping stone to pursue higher education or to apply for jobs," he expressed, Wednesday (5/6).

East Jakarta Baznas Bazis Coordinator, Eka Napisah explained that out of the 297 diplomas, 226 came from schools under the East Jakarta Education Sub-agency Region 1, while the remaining 71 were from Region 2.

"To redeem these diplomas, Baznas Bazis allocated approximately Rp 600 million, sourced from zakat, infaq, and alms (ZIS)," she explained.

She noted that the redemption cost per diploma ranged from Rp 1 million to Rp 2 million following negotiations with the schools.

"Without negotiation, the arrears could reach around Rp 5 million per person. Some of these diplomas had been withheld for one to seven years," she revealed.

Meanwhile, one of the beneficiaries of the program, 19-year-old Bayu Ade Saputra, expressed his relief at finally receiving his junior high school (SMP) diploma after it was held for three years.

"I am very grateful. I finally have the original diploma. Previously, I only relied on photocopies and graduation letters to continue my education," he concluded.