TNP2K Develops Network to Strengthen BSM Implementation

12 September 2014

To improve the Cash Transfers for Poor Student Programme (BSM) in 2014, the Secretariat for the National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Reduction (TNP2K), Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) organised a series of workshops held 8-10 September 2014 at Maqna Gorontalo Hotel. The event focused on strengthening grievance handling and developing networks for BSM, Family Hope Programme (PKH) and the National Programme for Community Empowerment (PNPM) Generation.

In his speech, Dr. Sastra Juwanda, sub-directorate head of students, directorate of madrasah education at Kemenag, said that poverty affects the well-being and education levels of communities. "Synergy is needed between the BSM, PKH and PNPM Generation programmes, so that children who cannot attend school for financial reasons can receive help in continuing their education," Dr. Juwanda said.

Dr. Juwanda emphasised that quality education is needed to help children escape or avoid poverty.

The workshops aimed at providing a forum where likeminded implementers of the BSM, PKH and PNPM Generation programmes could learn from each other about the successes and challenges of implementing each programme. This point was made by Dyah Larasati from TNP2K's Working Group on Social Assistance Programmes.

The workshop is part of a series of trial activities organised by TNP2K in three districts: West Bandung, Gorontalo, and East Sumba. Speakers at the event included representatives from Kemendikbud, Kemenag, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs, as well as implementers of the BSM, PKH and PNPM Generation programmes from Gorontalo District.