Smart Cards Will Be Provided to Poor Students : Minister

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- Smart Cards (KIP) will be provided to students who are poor, as well as to those vulnerable to poverty, Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Anies Baswedan said.

"KIP will be distributed to poor students and to those vulnerable to being poor. So far, the government gave (assistance) only to the poor, even though the vulnerable fall into the category of poor in reality," the minister stated here on Monday.

As a result, those falling under the classification of "vulnerable to poverty" will also be included as beneficiaries of the Smart Cards, Baswedan affirmed.

The minister explained who the KIP beneficiaries would be following the ministerial coordination meeting on Wednesday where the implementation of the Indonesia Health Card and Smart Card programs was discussed. These programs are a high priority for Jokowi's government.    

The meeting, which took place at the office of the Coordinating Human Development and Culture Ministry, was chaired by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Puan Maharani.

Maharani noted that the Indonesia Health Card and Smart Card schemes were priority programs for her ministry. (WDY)