Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology: Closure of Study Programmes as Last Resort
Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek), Badri Munir Sukoco, stated that plans to close study programmes are not the primary choice. He said that closing study programmes at higher education institutions would only be a last resort if the programmes no longer meet quality standards.
Before closure, Badri said, study programmes must undergo evaluation first. “If, based on a comprehensive evaluation, they no longer meet quality standards, lack adequate academic sustainability, and cannot be developed further through mentoring or transformation measures,” Badri said in a written statement on Tuesday, 28 April 2026.
He explained that basic sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, and non-applied fields still hold important positions in the national talent architecture. Badri emphasised that the government does not view higher education narrowly as a workforce provider. He said that any field of knowledge remains a centre for developing science, innovation, culture, leadership, and solutions for society.
According to Badri, the arrangement of study programmes is not intended to make higher education institutions subservient solely to industrial interests. Higher education still has a major mandate in developing knowledge, shaping character, strengthening critical thinking, and building the foundation of the nation’s civilisation.
Therefore, Badri stressed, the evaluation of study programmes is not only based on aspects of interest or job absorption but also on the quality of learning, lecturer capacity, academic sustainability, scientific contributions, national strategic needs, and regional development equity.
Previously, Badri conveyed plans to close study programmes that are not relevant to workforce needs. He made this statement at the 2026 National Population Symposium in Badung Regency, Bali, on Thursday, 23 April 2026. That statement drew criticism from various quarters.
Badri also mentioned that the surplus of graduates in certain study programmes is a reason for the government to reorganise the programmes. One example is teacher education or education departments, which produce 490,000 teacher graduates every year, while the need for prospective teachers is only 20,000 people.
He asked higher education institutions to be willing to select which study programmes need to be closed. “Later, there may be some that we have to execute in a not too long time regarding the study programmes; we need to select, sort, and if necessary, close them to increase relevance,” said Badri.