Budget for Free State University Education Will Not Come from Danantara

The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, has emphasised that the budget required to implement free education in state universities (PTN) will not be sourced from Danantara.

According to Brian, the government is currently preparing a financing scheme that will eventually replace university revenue derived from students, including Single Tuition Fees (UKT) and income from independent admission tracks.

“Not everything is related to Danantara. This is a budget that will eventually replace either the revenue from the independent track or the UKT, which has been used for campus operations, and will be replaced by the government,” Brian told reporters at the Presidential Palace Complex on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.

Brian explained that the government has conducted calculations regarding educational cost requirements based on the cost standards of each study programme, region, and the number of students per year.

He stated that these calculations have been carried out by the Ministry of Higher Education since 2024 and are being used as a reference standard for calculating the financing needs of state universities.

“We already have the calculations for how the cost standards for each programme, region, and each student per year are determined. Since 2024, the ministry has performed these calculations, which we use as a reference standard,” he said.

From these calculations, the government has identified a budget requirement of approximately Rp93 trillion. This figure was previously presented by the government during discussions with Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR RI).

“That is why the figure of Rp93 trillion, which we previously presented to Commission X, emerged,” said Brian.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto instructed his ministers to draft budget plans and requirements so that free education can be provided to children starting from kindergarten (TK).

The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Abdul Mu’ti, explained that starting this year, School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds are not only provided to primary schools (SD) but also to kindergartens.