East Jakarta Distributes 374 Diplomas to Graduates Who Could Not Afford School Fees

The East Jakarta Administration helped underprivileged residents to retrieve their school diplomas that had been withheld due to outstanding education fees. Through the second phase of the 2026 Diploma Retrieval Program, a total of 374 diplomas were returned to their rightful owners.

Commitment to assisting underprivileged residents

East Jakarta Mayor Munjirin said the program was initiated by the East Jakarta Education Sub-agencies Regions I and II in collaboration with the local Baznas Bazis.

Central Jakarta Helps 879 Residents Retrieve Withheld Diplomas

"The diploma retrieval program reflects the government's commitment to assisting underprivileged residents who encounter difficulties in meeting the administrative requirements related to their education," he said at the East Jakarta Mayor's Office on Monday (11/2).

Munjirin explained that diplomas play an important role in a person's future, particularly as a requirement for pursuing further education or entering the workforce.

"We handed over a total of 374 diplomas to their owners today. Although they are just sheets of paper, these documents hold great meaning for the graduates and their parents," he shared.

He hoped beneficiaries would make the most of their diplomas to pursue higher education or secure employment.

"Please keep your diplomas safe and in good condition. If these important documents are lost or damaged, the process of obtaining replacements can take time," he emphasized.

Muhammad Fahmi, Head of the East Jakarta Education Sub-agency Region I, explained that the program aims to restore the rights of private school graduates who had been unable to collect their diplomas due to outstanding tuition fees.

"The main goal is to ensure that diplomas previously withheld by private schools are returned to the graduates who are entitled to receive them," he said.

Horale Tua Manullang, Head of the East Jakarta Education Sub-agency Region II, added that the number of graduates whose diplomas remained withheld by schools had continued to decline each year.

"Thankfully, the schools have also provided assistance, helping reduce the amounts that need to be paid to retrieve the diplomas," he said.

Eka Napisah, Coordinator of East Jakarta Baznas Bazis, said the organization had allocated around Rp690 million to cover the outstanding fees for the 374 diplomas.

"The funds managed by Baznas Bazis come from public contributions in the form of zakat, infaq, and sadaqah (ZIS)," she added.

Meanwhile, Trifena Margaretha, a 2025 graduate of SMK PGRI 39 and one of the program's beneficiaries, said she was grateful to finally have her diploma back after it had been withheld due to unpaid school fees.

"I'm very happy to have received my diploma. I can now use it to apply for jobs," she said.