Prabowo Establishes Special Task Force to Study Budget for Free Education up to State Universities
President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia has formed a special task force, led by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, to comprehensively study the proposal for free education up to the level of state universities (PTN).
“The President has also instructed that a deeper review be conducted. A special team led by the Coordinating Minister has been formed to break down the calculations further,” said the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, following a limited meeting with Prabovow at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (23/9).
In addition to Pratikno and Brian, the team will involve the State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, the Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, the Minister of Finance, Suahasil Nazara, and other relevant ministries and agencies.
Brian stated that the special task force is expected to complete its study regarding the budget and implementation stages for free university tuition within the next two weeks to one month.
“This is to determine the necessary steps and stages, so that the President’s desire and direction to provide free education at state universities can be realised,” he said.
Brian noted that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology has already conducted preliminary studies and calculations for the implementation of the free tuition programme.
He explained that the study includes an analysis of Single Tuition Fees (UKT), Institutional Development Fees (IPI), and other components that currently serve as campus revenue to facilitate lectures.
He added that the Ministry has already compiled data on the costs required for each student in every study programme. However, Brian mentioned that various options and studies must be discussed and re-evaluated, taking into account the available fiscal space within the State Budget (APBN).
“The hope is, of course, that the President wants this tuition-free programme to be implemented as soon as possible. However, we will certainly go through specific stages; it will not happen immediately,” he said.