Free Higher Education: Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Studies Funding Requirements
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) has begun calculating funding requirements as a strategic step to follow up on President Prabowo Subianto’s directive regarding free education up to the university level.
The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, stated that the President’s directive is being addressed by assessing the standard financing needs for students across all State Universities (PTN).
“The President actually instructed us some time ago to conduct a study on this matter. We have begun calculating the standard requirements per student for all PTNs. We have already performed the calculations,” said Minister Brian Yuppertarto in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The Minister noted that the government is also mapping the condition of each state university, including the specific needs of each institution and student enrolment numbers.
The results of these calculations and mapping will subsequently be reported to the President to serve as a basis for determining the scheme and implementation stages of the policy.
If all prerequisites allow for immediate implementation, the government will consider it. However, if adjustments are necessary, the government has also begun considering scenarios for a phased rollout.
“At the first opportunity, we will report the calculated requirements for making all PTNs free to the President. We will also look at what the phasing will look like; if it can be done immediately, that is good, but if it is not yet adequate or possible, we will create stages for 2027, 2028, and through to 2029. This is what we are currently doing,” said Minister Brian Yuliarto.
According to the Minister, the calculation process is ongoing to ensure that the policy prepared by the government is based on adequate data. The mapping includes the needs of each campus and student numbers, allowing for a more comprehensive calculation of financing requirements.
The government is not only looking at the aspect of student education funding but is also considering the sustainability of educational delivery across all state universities.
In the context of expanding access to higher education, Kemdiktisaintek is also continuously evaluating various existing higher education support instruments, including the Indonesia Smart Education Card (KIP Kuliah).
Various options will be studied to ensure that the public, particularly economically disadvantaged groups, continue to have access to university-level education.
“In essence, we want to be optimal and ensure that access to higher education is available to those who truly cannot afford it,” concluded Minister Brian Yuliarto.