UKT Mahal, Dede Yusuf To Mendikbud Nadiem: Where Is The Education Budget?

Screenshot - Deputy Chairman of Commission X DPR RI Dede Yusuf Macan Effendi / DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission X of the DPR, Dede Yusuf questioned the use of the education budget allocation to the Minister of Education and Culture, Research and Technology, Nadiem Makarim during a working meeting at the DPR Building, Tuesday, May 21. This is because the education budget is allocated 20 percent of the total Indonesian APBN of IDR 3,325.12 trillion. This was conveyed by Dede Yusuf in response to the increase in single tuition fees (UKT) which skyrocketed in a number of universities (PT). "We at the DPR have received several hearings from BEM-BEM students from universities, so we see that this issue should not be left alone without a concrete solution. We want to get an explanation from the Ministry of Education, the assumption outside is that the education budget is 20 percent of the APBN. If our APBN is at a figure of maybe almost Rp3,300 trillion, it means that 20 percent should be at Rp665 trillion," said Dede in a working meeting at the DPR, Tuesday, May 21. "That's what we also always ask where is this education budget?", he continued. Dede said that the education budget that fell in the Ministry of Education and Culture was only around Rp. 98 trillion. Even then, said Dede, it has only been up recently. "Yesterday it was only Rp. 81 trillion. For that we will also ask the government to explain where the Rp. 665 trillion budget went? So that people also understand and know what the function of the education budget is or there is another function of education, and then what is education doing to reduce the high cost of education?," said the Democrat politician. Dede also mentioned the statement of one of the Ministry of Education and Culture officials, namely the Acting Secretary of the Directorate General of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and Research and Technology, Tjitjik Tjahjandie, who said that higher education was part of tertiary needs. "We also want to ask, the problem is not only the secondary term, but the problem is whether the demographic bonus we want to achieve is that we only rely on having to study for 12 years? So we ask for help given insight to the vision and mission and what will be done by the Ministry of Education and Culture," said the West Java electoral district legislator. Previously, Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikbud-Ristek) Nadiem Makarim, said that the increase in single tuition fees (UKT) applies to new students. This was conveyed by Nadiem in response to the increase in UKT which skyrocketed and sparked action in a number of universities. Nadiem ensured that students who had studied at national universities would not be affected by this increase.

"So the Ministry of Education and Culture regulation emphasizes that this new UKT regulation only applies to new students. It does not apply to students who have studied in universities," said Nadiem in a working meeting with Commission X of the DPR, Tuesday, May 21. "So there is still a lack of perception in various circles on social media and others, that this will suddenly change the UKT rate for students who have implemented education in universities. This is not true at all," he continued.