Prabowo Wants More Scholarship Recipients, STEM Priority

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto wants the number of scholarship recipients to be increased so that the President also ordered the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto and the Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi to make a new formulation that can increase the number of scholarship recipients.

The issue of tuition fees and scholarships was also discussed during a meeting between President Prabowo with 1,200 professors, deans, and rectors from public universities and private universities throughout Indonesia at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta.

"(Regarding tuition fees, ed) one of them (discussed, ed). So, it was also reported to the President how many of the current student siblings are studying. So, there are approximately 9.9 million, then how many have received scholarships in various forms, one of which is the KIP which has only 1.1 million recipients," said Prasetyo as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, January 15.

"Well, that's where the President also gave directions to us, especially the Minister of Education and Technology and we as the Minister of Education to try to recalculate, reformulate how to increase as many scholarship recipients as possible," continued Prasetyo.

On the same occasion, the President then gave directions for the allocation of LPDP scholarship recipients to also be prioritized for those who take science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies.

"He gave instructions for the allocation of funds from the LPDP scholarship to be increased to STEM. Earlier, he (the President, ed.) had expressed hope to reach more than 80 percent, because we are indeed concentrating on catching up with our shortcomings first in terms of mastery of science and technology," said Prasetyo.

Previously, in the middle of the Presidential Palace, President Prabowo had an audience with 1,200 professors of social and humanities (soshum), deans, rectors, and leaders of universities.

During the meeting, President Prabowo gave a briefing to university leaders, then also announced an increase in the research fund ceiling to Rp. 4 trillion or 50 percent of the original figure of Rp. 8 trillion so that the total ceiling in 2026 reaches Rp. 12 trillion.

Regarding the additional research funds, Prasetyo stated that the policy applies in 2026.

"This year (it applies, ed). So it is asked to yes enter in the 2026 budget year," said Prasetyo.