Criticized By House of Representative, Minister Nadiem Will Review Discourse On The Imposition Of VAT On Education

DOC ANTARA/MENDIKBUDRISTEK NADIEM MAKARIM

JAKARTA - Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Nadiem Makarim, will explore the discourse on the imposition of value-added tax (VAT) for the education sector.

"For schools, of course, we will study it. Because we have to investigate first to see the situation", said Nadiem in a working meeting with Commission X of House of Representatives, Tuesday, June 15.

Nadiem ensured that the criticism and input regarding VAT in the education sector would be submitted to the central government.

"We will take the message to the internal central government", said Nadiem.

Previously, several political party factions in Commission X of the House of Representatives firmly rejected the plan to impose a value-added tax (VAT) in the education sector.

Deputy Chairperson of Commission X of the House of Representatives for the Democratic Faction, Dede Yusuf Macan, emphasized that his faction rejected the discourse. He criticized the policy as making it more difficult for society.

"We, from the Democratic Party faction, of course also refuse if schools are given taxes because currently all schools are gasping for air and it is also impossible to add to the burden later on parents", said Dede in the Commission X meeting room, Nusantara I Building, Jakarta, Tuesday, June 15.

Meanwhile, a member of Commission X of the House of Representatives from the Gerindra faction, Djohar Arifin Husin, said that the plan was not well implemented, because schools had helped the state.

"We from the Gerindra faction strongly reject the existence of a value-added tax in the field of education. Education should be the duty of the state", he emphasized.

Similarly, a member of Commission X of the House of Representatives from the Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) faction, Ledia Hanifa also said that education is a non-profit activity. So, it should not be raised and taken education tax.

"Therefore, it is very important for all of us not to collect taxes in the education sector, especially because we know that education is a non-profit activity", she said.