Anies Worried That The Cost Of Higher Education Will Be More Affordable

Presidential Candidate Anies Baswedan during "Together With Usyula And Presidential Candidate Anies Rasyid Baswedan" at the Sultan Agung Islamic University (Uzisula) Semarang, Monday (5/2/2024). (ANTARA/Zuhdiar Laiis)

President Anies Baswedan said the aspirations of the people that were conveyed to him while traveling to various regions so far were mostly related to education.

"We have been around for this year feeling that it is what we want to change. Education is the most talked about, then health," he said in Semarang as reported by ANTARA, Monday, February 5.

Hal tersebut disampaikan saat kegiatan "Kempul Bersama Usisula dan Capres Anies Rasyid Baswedan" di Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (Uzisula) Semarang.

According to him, the education system in Indonesia that has been implemented so far still adheres to the reverse pyramid with higher education levels which are increasingly tapering upwards.

"With that, there are more and more people who break up in the middle of the road. Competency that arises is far from expectations," he said.

In fact, he said, several countries apply the same proportion to education levels, both elementary schools (SD), junior high schools (SMP), and high schools (SMA).

"Some are in college at a height of 70-80 percent from high school. What happened? They are preparing an extraordinary generation," he said.

Before becoming a presidential candidate, Anies admitted that he had also traveled to various regions, such as when sending his students for teaching service in the Sangihe Talaud Islands, North Sulawesi, in 2011.

"Those who depart can work in large-caliber companies with high salaries, but they are willing to teach in quiet places where there are no facilities whatsoever," he said.

From his journey, he felt the inequality of education, even though he found many children with extraordinary abilities in the regions.

"The ability is high, but the opportunity is low. There is no opportunity, stagnant. This is called structural constraints," he said.

In addition, Anies also admitted that he was worried about the cost of higher education which was increasingly expensive and unaffordable.

"We are very worried about the higher and higher cost of higher education, so that we select without realizing it. Selecting participants, must be from the middle to the top to get higher education," he said.