JAKARTA - The chairman of Commission X of the DPR, Syaiful Huda, questioned the statement by the Secretary of the Director General of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Tjitjik Sri Tjahjani, who called universities the highest education. According to him, this statement raises the perception that higher education is elitist and only for certain circles.
"We are concerned about Prof. Tjitjik's statement that universities are tertiary education that is optional or choice. For us, this statement further thickens the perception that the poor are prohibited from going to college," said Chairman of Commission X DPR RI, Syaiful Huda, to reporters, Saturday, May 18.
"That campuses are elite and only for those who have money to pay Single Lecture Money," he continued.
According to Huda, the university's statement is that tertiary education is correct but not appropriate. Moreover, this was conveyed by public officials who took care of higher education in the official media meeting forum to respond to protests about the increase in UKT in a number of state universities. If the protests about the increase in UKT are responded to like this, of course it is very sad," he said. The Deputy Secretary General of PKB emphasized that the government should also give up on the fate of those who do not have a fee but want to study. In fact, said Huda, on the other hand, the government is passionate about wanting to realize Indonesia Gold 2045 and wants to take advantage of demographic bonuses so that it does not become a disaster in the future. But when there are complaints of high tuition fees from students and the public, it seems as if they want to let go, he said. Previously, the Secretary of the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology Kemendikbudristek Tjik Sri Tjahjandarie said that higher education is a tertiary education or a choice that is not required to study for 12 years. The current compulsory education in Indonesia is only 12 years, namely from elementary, junior high school to high school. This was said by Tjijik in response to a wave of criticism related to single lecture money (UKT) in higher education which is increasingly expensive.
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Tjitjik said that higher education in Indonesia cannot be free like in other countries. This is because the operational assistance of state universities (BOPTN) has not been able to cover all operational needs. Therefore, according to him, tuition costs must be met by students so that the implementation of education meets quality standards.
"From the other side, we can see that this tertiary education is an education. So it is not mandatory to study. This means that not all SLTA graduates, vocational schools are required to enter higher education. This is an option," said Tjitjik at the Ministry of Education and Culture Office, Wednesday, May 16.
"Who wants to develop themselves to enter university, yes, it is an option, not a mandatory one," he added.
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