Prabowo Desires Free Education in Indonesia; Puan: We Must Assess State Budget Capacity

The Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Puan Maharani, has stated that the government needs to assess the limitations of the State Budget (APBN) to realise President Prabowo Subianto’s vision of free education, ranging from primary school to public universities.

According to her, education costs from primary school (SD) to junior high school (SMP) are already free. However, the State Budget must be directed to provide the greatest possible benefit to the nation and the state.

“We must first examine how beneficial it will be and what the strength of the APBN is,” said Puan after attending a plenary session at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, 22 September 2026.

Furthermore, Puan noted that the House of Representatives will also first observe the global situation and the current state of the State Budget before implementing the President’s discourse.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto emphasised that the costs for state education, from primary school to state universities, must be free and should not become a burden to the public.

During his speech at the 28th anniversary of the National Mandate Party (PAN) in Jakarta on Friday night, 18 September 2026, Prabowo stated that he would soon convene a limited meeting to discuss efforts to realise this tuition-free state education.

“I strongly agree; I will immediately hold a limited meeting (ratas) to ensure that state education costs must be free,” said the President.

The Head of State also addressed the funding sources required to implement this free education policy. According to Prabowo, one potential source of funding could come from the recovery of state funds that have been lost to corruption.

“Later, people will ask, where will the money come from? It will come from the money that has been corrupted, stolen, or embezzled,” he remarked.