House Commission X: Prabowo's Speech at KSTI Shows Positive Steps for Higher Education and Research

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Commission X, Lalu Hadrian Irfani, has assessed President Prabowo Subianto’s speech at the National Convention of Science, Technology, and Industry (KSTI) as a positive step. He noted that the President’s address reflected his commitment to the world of higher education in Indonesia, including research and innovation. “He conveyed his commitment that he is very concerned about the development of education, not only primary and secondary education, but also higher education,” Irfani said at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday. The legislator stated that the President emphasised his commitment to ensuring that the potential of Indonesia’s human resources is maximised for the nation’s development, aligning with the strategic mission of the Astacita under the Prabowo administration. Irfani, who oversees education affairs, also welcomed the plan to increase the research budget by Rp4 trillion. He considered the funding crucial given that the development of science and technology requires significant support. However, Irfani expressed hope that the research budget increase could be expanded to between Rp7 and Rp8 trillion, as research encompasses many sectors and must be well-targeted. “Ideally, it should be around Rp7 to Rp8 trillion, but again, we have to look at our fiscal condition. If in 2026 it is okay at Rp4 trillion, we hope in 2027 it can increase, even more than Rp7 to Rp8 trillion,” he said. Furthermore, Irfani stressed the commitment of Commission X to oversee government programmes in the fields of higher education, research, and innovation, with supervision beginning from the planning stage. President Prabowo, speaking at the opening of the KSTI National Saresehan in Jakarta on Friday, expressed his belief that a country can become a developed nation by harnessing the potential and capabilities of its academics and scientists. In front of 2,600 academics, scientists, researchers, and leaders of public and private universities, the President stated that the government requires input from the academic community to formulate policies. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, after the event’s closing, said the President had instructed an additional research budget of around Rp4 trillion. The research roadmap will be coordinated between the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). “The research roadmap, as mentioned, has been produced, and the core point is that all research we are currently conducting must be under one grand design,” the State Secretary Minister said.