JAKARTA \u2014 The Indonesian Rectors\u2019 Forum (FRI) supports President\nPrabowo Subianto\u2019s plan to make education free through public\nuniversities. It recommends that all students admitted to state\nuniversities receive free tuition.<\/p>\n
Didin Muhafidin, deputy chair of FRI\u2019s Advisory Board, said free\neducation was mandated by the 1945 Constitution and that the government\nshould allocate funding to make it a reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cFree education must be funded; the state should cover all education\ncosts,\u201d Didin told Republika on Monday (1 November 2026).<\/p>\n
Didin said free education currently extends to senior secondary\nschool through the School Operational Assistance (BOS) programme. For\npublic universities, he proposed a Higher Education Operational\nAssistance (BOPT) scheme.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Higher Education Law already provides for BOPT, so it could be\ndone. As long as there is agreement between the executive and\nlegislative branches, and Parliament approves it \u2014 since Parliament has\nthe budgetary power \u2014 there is no problem,\u201d Didin said.<\/p>\n
If free tuition at public universities is introduced, Didin said the\nshare of the state budget allocated to education would need to increase,\nas the government would have to provide the funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe education budget is currently 20 per cent; that might have to be\nincreased. The allocation for public universities would need to be\ncalculated \u2014 around 97 trillion rupiah, if I am not mistaken. Then there\nis the amount for private universities. Once BOPT is in place, it could\nbe applied in the same way as for primary and secondary education,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Didin also wants free tuition to apply immediately to all students,\nwithout specific eligibility criteria. He said this would help prevent\nmanipulation to secure places in the free-tuition scheme.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my view, there should be no discrimination. The government should\ncover the costs for everyone, as developed countries do. Those who can\nafford it could use their money to invest or start a business, while the\nstate would support those who cannot,\u201d said Didin, rector of Al-Ghifari\nUniversity.<\/p>\n
Didin said he did not want eligibility conditions for free university\neducation, warning that such requirements could lead to collusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it is restricted by income decile or other criteria, there is a\nrisk of manipulation. It should simply be free for everyone admitted \u2014\nrich or poor, all of them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko\nPMK) is currently finalising a free-education policy framework covering\nall levels, from early childhood education through university.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-rectors-forum-backs-free-public-university-tuition-sets-out-conditions-1793605912", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }