BANDAR LAMPUNG (November 30, 2020) - The 'Let's Go to College Movement' launched by the Lampung Province Family Hope Program (PKH) can be promoted as a National Movement.

The Director General of Social Protection and Security at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Pepen Nazaruddin, welcomed the 'Let's Go to College Movement' for the children of PKH Family Beneficiaries (KPM) which had taken place in Lampung Province. This is because this movement has succeeded in bringing 335 KPM PKH children to higher education.

"This movement, which has been taking place from 2017 to 2020, has recorded a total of 335 PKH children from 15 regencies/cities who have been accepted into State Universities or State Islamic Universities, and the number continues to increase every year. This movement is very good and other provinces can imitate it so that it becomes a national movement," said Pepen to the media in Lampung, Monday (30/11).

The Director General of Social and Social Security carried out a working visit to Lampung Province to have a dialogue with 41 KPM PKH children who are currently pursuing undergraduate education. Also present on the occasion were Senior Staff of the Minister of Social Affairs for Social Welfare Technology, Adhy Karyono, Director of Family Social Security (JSK), Rachmat Koesnadi and Head of the Lampung Province Social Service, Aswarodi.

Pepen added that the 'Let's Study Movement' is one of PKH Lampung's innovations which is carried out with a series of activities, ranging from mapping the potential of PKH children while in high school (SMA), implementing education and motivation, assistance when registering, to advocating the selection process.

"The Let's Study Movement for PKH children who excel is carried out through a series of processes that are directly handled by PKH companions and the Social Office so that these outstanding children can continue their education and become examples for their families and the environment," he said.

According to Pepen, one of the efforts to break the chain of poverty is to increase the affordability of education for the children of KPM PKH. This is in line with the government's target to increase the number of graduates.

"The more KPM PKH children are educated up to college, the more KPM PKH have to graduate because their lives are getting better. If their children pass S1, they will get better jobs and can lift the lives of their parents," continued Pepen.

Recognition of KPM PKH Children After Participating in the 'Let's Go to College Movement'

Meanwhile, Slamet Hariyanto, one of the KPM PKH children, said he was happy with the 'Let's Study Movement' organized by PKH HR.

"This movement has provided me with a lot of information to gain access to study at Raden Intan State Islamic University, Lampung. Before this movement, we didn't know much about access to higher education," explained Slamet.

Slamet, who is currently in the fifth semester of UIN Raden Inten, admitted that he was ready to share his experiences with other KPM PKH children to be able to achieve their goals.

"I am ready to pass on what I have achieved. My poor condition does not make me feel inferior," he said.

Slamet invites all children from underprivileged families not to be afraid to aspire to a higher education because only higher education can help change the fate of the family.

"We must not stop dreaming to achieve higher goals. Don't be discouraged by the situation. We must learn and try to achieve a better life," added Slamet.

Behind his experience of attending college through this movement, he admitted that he chose to stay in the mosque while helping clean the mosque where he was staying to ease the burden of his daily expenses.

Data from the Ministry of Social Affairs noted that as many as 471,524 Lampung residents received PKH assistance with a total assistance of Rp1,728,941,189,000 as of October 2020.