MP Urges Free Education Programme to Include Private Schools
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Abdul Fikri Faqih, a member of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR), has requested that the free education programme initiated by President Prabowo Subianto should not be limited to state schools but should also encompass private institutions.
According to Fikri, reported in Jakarta on Tuesday, the government is also obligated to cover educational costs for private schools, at least at the primary education level, as a form of compliance with the constitutional mandate and the Constitutional Court (MK) ruling.
“We must remember that there is Constitutional Court Decision Number 3 of 2024, which must be implemented. Primary and junior high schools should not only be state-run, but both state and private,” he stated.
He emphasised that the 20 per cent allocation of the national budget (APBN) for education is sufficient to realise this free education programme, meaning the government should not be discriminatory by only facilitating state schools.
According to him, from the 2027 APBN projections, which approach Rp4,000 trillion, the education budget reaches approximately Rp820 trillion. However, he noted that much of the education budget currently flows into interests that do not directly impact teaching and learning activities.
He asserted that if the budget were focused correctly, education funds would be abundant, even up to the higher education level.
“If it is properly managed for education entirely, I believe it is more than sufficient. We have conducted simulations. Our faction’s calculation suggests a need for Rp300 trillion; a moderate estimate is Rp500 trillion, and an ideal figure would be around Rp700 trillion. This could very well extend to universities,” he said.
Regarding the future sustainability of private high schools, vocational schools, and universities, Fikri urged the government to prepare special assistance schemes, such as the proposed Private Higher Education Operational Costs (BOPTS).
He noted that this is vital to ensure there is no discrimination regarding the right to education for the nation’s children.
To concretely realise this grand idea, he believes the current momentum of the revision of the National Education System Law (Sisdiknas) in the DPR is the right time to synchronise regulations.
He expressed hope that President Prabowo would be able to orchestrate budget management so that the portion truly absorbed for pure education could surge to 80 to 90 per cent of the total education budget.
In a limited meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (23/9), President Prabowo Subianto instructed ministers to realise free education from kindergarten, primary, and secondary levels, through to higher education.