Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Handover Ceremony of the Indonesia Smart Card (KIP) for Students in Magelang City, Central Java Province, January 22, 2024

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good afternoon, may prosperity be upon us all.

Distinguished Ministers, Governor of Central Java, Mayor of Magelang;

All teachers and school principals;

My beloved children, good afternoon. Have you had your lunch? I see that some of you are sleepy. Haven’t you had your lunch?

Ladies and Gentlemen.

My beloved children, do you all know that the assistance for the Smart Indonesia Program recipients for every elementary school student is Rp 450,000 per year, Rp 750,000 per year for junior high school students, and Rp 1,800,000 for high school/vocational school students per year? Is the amount enough? I think Rp 1.8 million is sufficient in Magelang. Those who say it’s not sufficient, please come to the stage, I’ll give you a bicycle. Is Rp 1.8 million sufficient? All right, I think that’s sufficient, and we should be grateful for that.

The money must be used for school needs: to buy books, to buy stationery, to buy uniforms, or to buy shoes. Is it permissible to buy cellphone credit? No. You should not buy a cellphone or cellphone credit using the KIP money.

The number of students who have received the KIP is 18 million students from Aceh to Papua. The number of recipients this year has increased. The figure of 18 million is for the year of 2023. For 2024, the number will increase to 18.6 million students.

Let me remind all of you that you must study hard. What time do you usually study at night and in the afternoon? All of you have to study hard, because the costs for your needs at school are covered by the Smart Indonesia Program. Students of Senior High Schools/Vocational School (SMA/SMK) who want to continue their study at universities may apply for KIP Kuliah program or LPDP scholarship. As of today,  960,000 students have used the KIP for their study. Anyone of you wants to go to universities? Senior High Schools/Vocational School students raise your hands. You may apply for a KIP Kuliah program.

Some of you will get a passbook from BRI and some of you will get a passbook from BNI 46. Please look at your passbooks, then you can withdraw the money at that bank. You don’t need to withdraw all your money. For example, for buying books, you can withdraw Rp 100,000. To buy shoes, you can withdraw Rp 150,000. You have to make arrangement so that you can make your ends meet.

Anyone of you can recite Pancasila? Please come to the stage then I will give you a bicycle. Please raise your hands. All right, the one who shouts enthusiastically, ‘me’. Please introduce yourself and mention your Elementary School.

Elementary School Student (Rajendra)

Let me introduce myself, my name is Rajendra.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Rajendra. From Elementary School?

Elementary School Student (Rajendra)

From KM 1, Kemirirejo 1.

President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo

KM 1? KM 1 Elementary School.

Elementary School Student (Rajendra)

Kemirirejo 1.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Kemirirejo 1. From Kemirirejo 1 Elementary School.

Elementary School Student (Rajendra)

Third Grader.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Third grader. Rajendra is as skinny as I was when I was a child. When I was a child I was like Rajendra.

Please recite the Pancasila.

Elementary School Student (Rajendra)

Pancasila, one.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Wait. Please speak loudly.

Elementary School Student (Rajendra)

Pancasila

One, belief in the Almighty God; Two, just and civilized humanity; Three, the unity of Indonesia; Four, democratic life led by wisdom of thoughts in deliberation among representatives of the people; Five, social justice for all Indonesian people.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Usually when you sit there you can answer my question easily. Once you get on the stage, you will feel nervous and forget everything. Anyway, you may take the bicycle.

Now, it is time for Junior High School, and Senior High School/Vocational School students. Please raise your hands. Please raise your hands if you can recite Pancasila. It is time for Junior High School, Senior High School/Vocational School students. All right, the one wearing a bag. You seems very excited.

Please introduce yourself. What is your name?

Junior High School Student (Ridho Muswadimah)

My name is Ridho Muswadimah.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Rida?

Junior High School Student (Ridho Muswadimah)

Ridho.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Ridho. Ridho, what class do you belong to?

Junior High School Student (Ridho Muswadimah)

I am an eighth grader.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

An eighth grader. Did you received the KIP this year or have you received the KIP before?

Junior High School Student (Ridho Muswadimah)

Last year, sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

You got it last year. From what bank?

Junior High School Student (Ridho Muswadimah)

BRI.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

BRI. All right. Now please recite the Pancasila.

Junior High School Student (Ridho Muswadimah)

Pancasila,

One, belief in the Almighty God; Two, just and civilized humanity; Three, the unity of Indonesia; Four, democratic life led by wisdom of thoughts in deliberation among representatives of the people; Five, social justice for all Indonesian people.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Five.

Junior High School Student (Ridho Muswadimah)

Five, social justice for all Indonesian people.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Please take the bicycle.

Junior High School Student (Ridho Muswadimah)

Thank you, sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Senior High School/Vocational School students, please come to the stage. Please raise your hands. All right, the female student.

It seems that all bicycles have been given to the students. We will send another bicycle tomorrow morning, God willing, it will be delivered at your house. We will send the bicycle to your house. Now, please introduce yourself.

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

Let me introduce myself. My name is Nesya Cantika Putri.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Pardon?

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

Nesya.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Nesya, Nesya, Nesya. Which class do you belong to?

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

Class 12.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Class 12, Nesya.

Nesya, how many years have you received the KIP?

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

I got it last year.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Last year?

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

Yes.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

How many years have you got the KIP?

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

I have received [the KIP] since I was in Elementary School.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Since Elementary School.

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

Yes.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

It means that you have received the KIP since you were an Elementary School student, Junior High School student and Senior High School student. Do you attend Senior High School or Vocational school? Vocational school. You get KIP starting from Elementary School, Junior High School and Vocational School.

In your opinion, what is the benefit of the program?

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

In my opinion, the benefit of the KIP is to help underprivileged children to make their needs meet, so that they don’t drop out of school and can continue their education to a higher level.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Do you want to go to a university?

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

Yes, God willing, I want to go to a university, sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

All right. You must study hard.

Anyone of you want to go to university? Raise your hands. It seems that everyone here wants to go to university. You have to study hard, because you will face a very tough competition.

May I know your father and your mother’s occupation?

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

My father is a chicken seller.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Chicken Seller.

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

My mother is a housewife.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

All right.

Now, please recite Pancasila.

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

Pancasila,

One, belief in the Almighty God; Two, just and civilized humanity; Three, the unity of Indonesia; Four, democratic life led by wisdom of thoughts in deliberation among representatives of the people; Five, social justice for all Indonesian people.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

All right.

Vocational High School Student (Nesya Cantika Putri)

Thank you sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Give [my staffer] your address, and you will receive the bicycle tomorrow afternoon.

My beloved children, that concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion. Once again, you have to study hard. Don’t forget to take exercise to maintain your health and don’t forget to pray.

Thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(RI/LW)