East Kalimantan Provincial Government Disburses Rp288.5 Billion for 63,603 Student Scholarships
The East Kalimantan Provincial Government has disbursed the third phase of educational financial assistance through the ‘Gratispol’ (Strategic Pro-People Action Movement Without Cost) programme, covering 63,603 students with a total budget of Rp288.5 billion.
Speaking in Samarinda on Tuesday, the Governor of East Kalimantan, Rudy Mas’ud, explained that the scope of this educational guarantee programme encompasses dozens of campus ecosystems across the province. “The recipients come from 52 higher education institutions, consisting of seven state universities (PTN) and 45 private universities (PTS) in East Kalimantan. In addition to regular students, assistance is also provided for collaborative programmes, specialist medical education, and educational staff,” said Rudy Mas’ud.
Universitas Muhammadiyah Kalimantan Timur (UMKT) ranked second in terms of recipients, with 7,713 students receiving a total of Rp39 billion. Other significant allocations include Politeknik Negeri Samarinda with Rp13.9 billion for 3,655 students, Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) with Rp12.4 billion for 3,572 students, and Poltekkes Kemenkes Kalimantan Timur with Rp10.8 billion for 2,014 students. Conversely, the smallest allocation went to Politeknik Sendawar in West Kutai Regency, providing Rp201 million for 57 students.
Following the disbursement of this third phase, the Governor issued strict instructions to the management of all higher education institutions, both public and private. He demanded that universities act swiftly to refund Single Tuition Fees (UKT) to students who had already made independent payments before the scholarship was processed. “Students’ rights must not be withheld. Higher education institutions must immediately return the UKT that was paid upfront by the beneficiaries of the Gratispol programme,” he emphasised.
The Governor also noted that significant opportunities remain for tens of thousands of other young people in East Kalimantan, as the provincial government confirmed that substantial quotas remain for approximately 80,000 to 90,000 students. “Specifically for East Kalimantan students, do not forget to register for the Gratispol programme. Active students from semester 1 to semester 8 are still eligible to apply. Utilise this programme to the fullest to support the future development of East Kalimantan,” urged the Governor.
Students wishing to register or monitor their selection status can access the official East Kalimantan Gratispol Education website directly. As a strategic regional programme, Gratispol is designed to expand access to higher education inclusively. This step serves as primary capital for the East Kalimantan Provincial Government in preparing a local young generation that is competent, globally competitive, and ready to support regional development alongside the arrival of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN).