Efficiency Plan: DPR Hopes Education Budget Will Not Be Cut

Deputy Chairman of DPR Commission X for Education, Lalu Hadrian, has cautioned the government against cutting the education budget following discussions on efficiency measures for various ministry and agency allocations. Lalu stressed that his side would critically address the efficiency plan, particularly if it targets education funding. According to him, the 1945 Constitution establishes the education budget as a national priority. “We emphasise that efforts to maintain the state budget deficit amid global pressures are indeed important, but they must not sacrifice the education sector,” Lalu stated when contacted on Wednesday (25/3). The PKB politician opined that education is not merely an expenditure item, but an investment to enhance the quality of human resources and national competitiveness. According to Lalu, if efficiency measures are unavoidable, his side encourages cuts only to non-priority spending such as ceremonial activities, official travel, or overlapping programmes. “Cutting the education budget is fundamentally not ideal, unless done very selectively and without touching core programmes,” he said. Lalu explained that slashing the education budget would have negative impacts in both the short and long term. In the near term, reductions could squeeze school operational assistance, scholarships, and teacher welfare. Meanwhile, in the long term, cuts could lower learning quality, widen access disparities in education, and weaken Indonesia’s global competitiveness. In the worst-case scenario, Lalu continued, such cuts could significantly risk disrupting the achievement of future human resource development targets. “We are not rejecting efficiency, but ensuring that the policy is implemented intelligently, measurably, and without sacrificing the future of the nation’s generations, especially in education,” he said. The education budget allocation in the 2026 state budget has been set at Rp757.8 trillion to Rp769.09 trillion. However, of that amount, nearly 30 per cent or Rp335 trillion is allocated to the free nutritious meal programme (MBG). That figure is the highest among other education sector allocations, including for non-civil servant teacher allowances, including honouraries, at Rp14.1 trillion or 2.5 per cent. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa previously revealed plans to cut budgets for ministries and agencies deemed inefficient, as well as to limit new budget submissions. This step was taken after reviewing budget proposals from several ministries that instead sought increases, rather than implementing efficiency. “Basically, we will cut budgets; I will limit new budgets so they are not submitted again because ministers keep proposing and the funds are short by trillions—we’ll limit, cut others, adjust, but it won’t disrupt the economy,” Purbaya said when met by reporters after Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah prayers at Salahuddin Mosque, Directorate General of Taxes, Jakarta, on Saturday (21/3).