Minister Of Education And Culture Nadiem: Final Semester Students Pay Only 50 Percent Of UKT Payments

Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim (Photo: Diah Ayu Wardani / VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim issued a policy regarding the payment of single tuition fees (UKT). Through Permendikbud 25/2020 which will be issued, he regulates the provision of waivers for UKT payments for state university students (PTN).

This relief was given after the Ministry of Education and Culture heard various inputs from students and lecturers. They, said Nadiem, asked the Ministry of Education and Culture to ease their burdens, including, the economic burden caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

"We will issue a Permendikbud which will provide UKT relief under our scope of PTN," Nadiem said in an online press conference broadcast on the Ministry of Education and Culture's YouTube account, Friday, June 19.

He hopes, with Permendikbud 25/2020, universities can provide relief from UKT payments to their students.

There are several policies that PTN can take to ease UKT payments for students.

First, said Nadiem, students are not required to pay UKT if they are on leave from college or do not take semester credit units (SKS).

"For example, he is waiting for graduation, so he is not obliged to pay UKT under these conditions. Higher education leaders can provide UKT relief and / or impose new UKT for students," he said, adding that there had been an agreement between the PTN Chancellors Council on April 22 regarding policies. this.

Then, continued Nadiem, final year students can pay a maximum of 50 percent of their UKT when taking 6 credits or less of that amount.

Then, students can also pay UKT in installments, with an installment payment period that is adjusted to the student's economic ability.

"They can also postpone the UKT, and the payment date will be adjusted," he explained.

Furthermore, there is also infrastructure assistance for students, such as internet network assistance, credit, and other things.

Nadiem explained that the campus was given the freedom to implement the policy according to their abilities.

He added that the policy was issued so that students would not be disturbed by their learning activities.

"The continuity of study is not disrupted during the pandemic, they can save money even though they do not enjoy campus facilities and services, and provide payment flexibility and savings at the end of the study period," he said.

Although this policy has just been issued, Nadiem said, there are several PTNs that have provided this kind of relief to their students.

"I want the appreciation of the chancellors and lecturers at the university who have advanced first to relax on their campus," said the former CEO of Gojek.

PTNs that have provided relief for their students in the midst of COVID-19 are Gadjah Mada University Yogyakarta, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Surakarta, Surabaya State University, Semarang State University, and Gorontalo State University.

"My deepest appreciation for the Chancellors for conducting various examples of UKT mitigation. Both in terms of installments, some provide relief, some provide internet subsidies," he said.

"So with this Permendikbud regulation, we hope that all state universities will soon follow and carry out relaxation in their respective campuses," he concluded.