Moeldoko Emphasizes The Importance Of Alternative Funding For Operational Assistance For State Universities

Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP) Moeldoko. (Ist)

Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP) Moeldoko assessed that the potential for noise related to the Standard for the Operational Costs of Higher Education at State Universities or PTN could be prevented by providing alternative funding for State Higher Education Operational Assistance (BOPTN).

Moeldoko said that currently government intervention through BOPTN can only close about 30 to 31 percent of the costs of providing higher education. The remaining 70 percent hope from the role of the community through Single Lecture Money (UKT) and Institution Development Contributions (IPI).

"Ideally 50 percent. For this reason, in the meeting, we were looking for alternative budget additions for BOPTN," he said after chairing the Coordination Meeting with ministries/agencies to discuss the higher education budget at the Bina Graha Building, Jakarta, in his statement, Thursday, May 30.

The coordination meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education and Culture, Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Ministry of Religion, and the Council of Chancellors of State Universities.

To note, the coordination meeting was held as a follow-up to the results of the Presidential Staff Office assessment regarding the issue of increasing UKT some time before. The results of the Presidential Staff Office assessment show that one of the reasons for the distribution is the need for alignment between the allocation of the State Budget and Expenditure Revenue (APBN) with the implementation of Government Regulation No. 18/2022 concerning Education Funding.

Furthermore, Moeldoko emphasized that the cost of organizing higher education must adhere to the principles of justice and mutual cooperation. For this reason, he asked that the UKT grouping be continued. "The principle of justice and mutual cooperation means the rich are helping the poor. This leveling of UKT is also needed so that the campus does not concede," he said.

Moeldoko also asked PTN to optimize assets to increase non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) revenues for non-Tone Lecture and Institution Development Contributions.

"All rectors must actively use campus asset infrastructure to think business so that income increases," he concluded.