Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology: Education is Key to Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

In this modern world, only through science and technology can we eliminate poverty, become a developed nation, and become a modern nation.

he Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, asserted that the mastery of science and the equitable access to education are the primary keys to breaking the cycle of poverty in Indonesia.

“Therefore, the only way to stop the cycle that continues to affect underprivileged families is through education,” he stated during a Scholarship Partners Seminar in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Minister Brian also quoted a message from the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, which reminded the nation of the importance of mastering science and technology for progress in the modern era.

“In this modern world, only through science and technology can we eliminate poverty, become a developed nation, and become a modern nation,” he said.

According to Brian, universities are the primary hubs for gathering outstanding young talents, such as prospective researchers, doctors, and engineers, who will lead Indonesia towards becoming a developed nation. Unfortunately, the noble ambitions of the nation’s future generations are often halted at the university gates due to the challenges of limited tuition fees.

To address this, the government is constantly present and working hard by allocating more than Rp15 trillion annually through scholarship programmes intended for underprivileged families. Nevertheless, the Minister acknowledged that such a massive effort cannot be undertaken by the government alone, given the high level of enthusiasm and demand in the field.

Consequently, he invited all elements of society to revive the spirit of ‘gotong royong’ (mutual cooperation), a legacy of their ancestors, through the provision of supplementary scholarships.

“Higher education is the gathering place for science and technology talents. On campus, our youth learn to become engineers, researchers, doctors, and technology experts who will continue to advance our nation. However, that door is often not open wide enough for every child,” said Brian.

“There are many talented children who are forced to stop at the gates of higher education due to one obstacle: cost. That is where scholarships play a role. If higher education is the door, then scholarships are certainly the key to opening that door,” Brian continued.

He also expressed his highest appreciation to local governments, the business world, philanthropic partners, and universities that have sincerely sacrificed to pave the way for high-achieving students. Moving forward, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology hopes that the scholarship provision ecosystem can be well-integrated, so that no child of the nation has to bury their dreams solely due to economic issues.