Indonesian Rectors’ Forum Backs Free Public University Tuition, Sets Out Conditions
JAKARTA — The Indonesian Rectors’ Forum (FRI) supports President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to make education free through public universities. It recommends that all students admitted to state universities receive free tuition.
Didin Muhafidin, deputy chair of FRI’s Advisory Board, said free education was mandated by the 1945 Constitution and that the government should allocate funding to make it a reality.
“Free education must be funded; the state should cover all education costs,” Didin told Republika on Monday (1 November 2026).
Didin said free education currently extends to senior secondary school through the School Operational Assistance (BOS) programme. For public universities, he proposed a Higher Education Operational Assistance (BOPT) scheme.
“The Higher Education Law already provides for BOPT, so it could be done. As long as there is agreement between the executive and legislative branches, and Parliament approves it — since Parliament has the budgetary power — there is no problem,” Didin said.
If free tuition at public universities is introduced, Didin said the share of the state budget allocated to education would need to increase, as the government would have to provide the funding.
“The education budget is currently 20 per cent; that might have to be increased. The allocation for public universities would need to be calculated — around 97 trillion rupiah, if I am not mistaken. Then there is the amount for private universities. Once BOPT is in place, it could be applied in the same way as for primary and secondary education,” he said.
Didin also wants free tuition to apply immediately to all students, without specific eligibility criteria. He said this would help prevent manipulation to secure places in the free-tuition scheme.
“In my view, there should be no discrimination. The government should cover the costs for everyone, as developed countries do. Those who can afford it could use their money to invest or start a business, while the state would support those who cannot,” said Didin, rector of Al-Ghifari University.
Didin said he did not want eligibility conditions for free university education, warning that such requirements could lead to collusion.
“If it is restricted by income decile or other criteria, there is a risk of manipulation. It should simply be free for everyone admitted — rich or poor, all of them,” he said.
The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) is currently finalising a free-education policy framework covering all levels, from early childhood education through university.