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Tulungagung – 9 November 2022, LP2M UIN Sayyid Ali Rahmatullah Tulungagung received the mandate to take part in a focused group discussion (FGD) which was organized by the Tulungagung Regional Development Planning Agency.
The FGD led by Bappeda had the theme of policy studies on preventing the transmission of poverty between generations in Tulungagung Regency. This meeting was led directly by Bappeda and began with a presentation on poverty data and the potential for intergenerational transmission of poverty. The presentation illustrates data that there are approximately five thousand people in Tulungagung who are still in poverty. Even though in terms of percentage this amount is still relatively low, even zero point a few percent, but these five thousand deserve attention. The main concern in this FGD was access to education.
There are at least three questions discussed in this FGD.(1) Are our schools enough to be accessible to the poor??(2) What factors must be available in schools so that the quality of poor learning becomes good??(3) What policies currently exist to improve school access and school quality??
The discussion went very warmly. Many discussion participants provided at least some information about access to education. For example, a representative from the Transportation Department explained that the Transportation Department had provided free transportation facilities for students in several sub-districts.
Then from the High School Principal 1 Tulungagung explained that access to education has become increasingly open. It was proven after evaluating school zoning from administrative to geographic that it had opened up many opportunities for residents around the school to register at the school without having to worry about other administrative matters..
The same is true in this free learning curriculum, the students will be directed to SMK as much as 60% and to high school 40%. Representatives of Madrasah Maarif gave their insight into educational institutions under the auspices of NU which have provided several scholarships and have produced generations who have been successful in various regions..
The Head of Education and Madrasah, Ministry of Religion, Tulungagung, also provided information that, Poor people are now able to enjoy education through PIP assistance, Bosda and so on. This assistance is able to help underprivileged people obtain education.
The delegation from Tulungagung Vocational School also added that Vocational Schools had become a breaker of poverty nets. This matter, he stressed, Vocational Schools equip students with skills that can be applied in various companies and even in agriculture. Agricultural Vocational School, for example, able to provide good fisheries skills, farm, to agriculture. For example, Agricultural Vocational School graduates will be able to produce fish and still be productive through the marketplace which is now the best vehicle for buying and selling in cyberspace.. [Red/AN]
