Government forms special team to study free tuition at state universities

The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, stated that the government has formed a special team to study the plan to provide free tuition at state universities (PTN).

The special team will be led by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, and will involve several relevant ministries, including the State Secretariat and the Ministry of Finance.

“The President has also instructed that a deeper study be conducted; a special team led by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture has been formed to further break down the calculations,” Brian said at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Brian noted that the team will calculate the detailed budget requirements and draft the implementation stages for the free state university programme.

According to him, this study is necessary to ensure that the plan desired by President Prabowo Subianto can be implemented realistically and gradually.

“The hope is that, perhaps within two weeks to one month, we will obtain more rational calculations and better implementation stages,” he said.

Brian mentioned that the results of the study will subsequently be reported back to President Prabowo through the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture. The report will serve as the basis for determining the steps and stages of the programme’s execution.

Brian emphasised that the government hopes President Prabowo’s directive to waive tuition fees at state universities can be realised promptly, though implementation will proceed through several stages.

“The hope, of course, is that the President wants this tuition-free programme to be implemented as soon as possible. However, we will certainly go through stages, rather than doing it all at once,” he added.