Postponement Of UKT Increase Anticipating Accumulation Of Community Protests

Illustration of demonstrations. (Photo: Special)

JAKARTA Education observer, Indra Charismiadji assessed that the government's decision to postpone the increase in the 2024 Single Lecture Money (UKT) is a form of prevention of the accumulation of public protests after the emergence of polemics of Public Housing Savings (Tapera).

According to him, before it was postponed, the excalation of public protests regarding the increase in UKT was getting higher. Therefore, you can imagine if the problem of increasing UKT has not been completed, the community will protest again regarding the Tapera Program.

"Recently, there is a Tapera business. If UKT continues to rise, plus Tapera again, it can be demo all out. Just imagine if students and workers both demonstrated down to the streets," said Indra, Sunday, June 2, 2024.

He explained that the soaring UKT costs in various PTNs had generated many votes of rejection, ranging from students, academic community, activists, to members of parliament.

On the other hand, the public was again surprised by the policy of the Joko Widodo Government which implemented a cut in employee salaries for the Tapera program.

Thus, it makes very sense for the government to postpone the increase in UKT to reduce developing issues with a large number of protests.

"Let the other one subside first, (the issue) The tapera is coming in. Isn't that what you saw?" he added.

According to him, the increase in UKT 2024 is based on Permendikbud Number 2 of 2024 which is still valid. Therefore, the increase in UKT can be applied in 2025.

"The increase was not canceled, but was postponed. The Permendikbud was not revoked. Therefore, do not let the people get pranked by high-ranking officials," he said.