Surplus of Graduates: Ministry of Education to Close Irrelevant Study Programmes

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology is planning to review study programmes to align them with industry needs. This is driven by the high number of graduates from programmes that are not absorbed in the workforce. Secretary General of the Ministry, Badri Munir Sukonco, stated that the government will readjust university study programmes to ensure maximum absorption of graduates. Additionally, irrelevant programmes may be closed. “There is willingness or perhaps some matters that we will execute not too long from now regarding study programmes; we will select or, if necessary, close them to increase relevance, and actually determine what programmes are needed in the future, which we will compile together,” said Badri, quoted from a rebroadcast on the YouTube channel of the Ministry of Population and Family Planning (BKKBN), on Monday (27/4). The Ministry also hopes for support from the Consortium of Higher Education Institutions Concerned with Population (PTPK). “So, in our view at the ministry, a joint policy is needed. We also hope for support from friends in PTPK, of course, the rectors present here, (so that) there is willingness,” Badri remarked. Oversupply of Graduates in Certain Programmes Badri mentioned that one programme considered oversupplied is education. He noted that in higher education statistics, social sciences programmes account for approximately 60%, with the largest portion being education/teacher training programmes. “Our teacher training programmes graduate 490,000 each year,” said Badri. “Meanwhile, the need for teacher training graduates is only 20,000,” he added. He also pointed out that currently, Indonesian higher education institutions use a market-driven strategy in opening programmes. This means that popular fields will have their programmes opened. “I can check that, for example, by 2028, we will actually have an oversupply of doctors if this is allowed to continue. An oversupply of doctors according to the World Bank’s minimum standard. Moreover, there is maldistribution, an imbalance in distribution across regions,” explained Badri. “Indeed, the demographic bonus is being promoted everywhere, but if higher education, which is expected to lead us to becoming an advanced country, is not adjusted to future economic growth needs, it certainly will not match,” he emphasised.