Students Protest at Kemdiktisaintek Building, Highlighting Access to Education in Remote Areas

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - A group of students held a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) building on Jalan Pintu Satu Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday (4/5/2026).

Based on observations by Kompas.com at the location at 14.05 WIB, the crowd from several extra-campus organisations united under the Cipayung Plus alliance began gathering and starting their action.

The demonstration was held to commemorate National Education Day (Hardiknas), which falls on Saturday (2/5/2026).

The students were seen forming a circle in front of the ministry’s entrance gate and beginning the action by delivering orations in turns.

In their orations, several students highlighted that many people in remote areas still cannot access education due to unaffordable costs.

“How many children in the regions cannot get education because they lack money, yet the education budget is not prioritised for them,” said one orator from the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI) atop the command vehicle.

The students demanded that the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, and the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, meet them outside the building.

Meanwhile, police personnel consisting of male and female officers were seen guarding in front of the building’s entrance gate.

As a result, vehicles from Jalan Jenderal Sudirman towards Jalan Asia Afrika were diverted via an alternative route around the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) area.