Access To Higher Education Is Increasingly Difficult, Education Funds Are Investigated By Other Programs

Since it was agreed on the allocation of the Education budget with 20 percent, we hope to immediately improve education in Indonesia. It can even catch up with other countries, or at least be equal to other nations. Or hopefully with a demographic bonus capital we have a generation with a superior one. Even with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution and the encouragement of our reform spirit we can make that happen.

However, real implementation has not actually materialized. The allocation of 20 percent of the budget has not actually been realized. So far, there are agencies/institutions that have also diverted 20 percent of the education budget in the name of the Education function.

Whereas based on the decision of the Supreme Court 3/PUU-XXII/2024, it is firm that the state must be financed for education. So that the 20 percent allocation education fund is not budgeted flexibly. The Constitutional Court Decision Number 3/PUU-XXII/ which states that it is mandatory to study at least at the primary education level (SD and SMP) must be held free of charge, both in public and private schools. This decision confirms the mandate of Article 31 of the 1945 Constitution and requires the state to fully finance basic education, which has an impact on the fulfillment of the budget of 20% of the State Budget.

However, the allocation of 20 percent of the 2025 APBN budget, the Ministry of Education and Culture only manages, 15 percent or Rp 705.8 trillion, the rest is distributed to a number of other ministries, such as the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Religion is even used for regional transfers as village funds, for non-physical physical development funds and 52 percent. Other Institutional Ministry materials and up to 14 percent. It is even used for financing expenditure as much as 17 percent.

Higher education should be the door to social mobility and driving the nation's development. In recent years, access to universities in Indonesia has become increasingly difficult. Lecture fees soared, the burden of UKT (Single Lecture Money) ensnared students, while scholarships were limited and uneven. Ironically, countries that are obliged to guarantee education are actually facing fiscal limitations, so that education funding no longer fully side with the people.

With the implementation of the 20 percent allocation of the Education budget, Melchias Markus Mekeng, doubts that Indonesia can meet the golden generation in 2045. If not immediately corrected. "How will we face Indonesia gold, if there is no improvement soon," said Mekeng during a dialogue at An Sensor.

Higher Education: A Dream That Is Getting Far

For many families, college now feels like luxury. The data shows that the average UKT in public universities continues to increase, even for regular lanes. Meanwhile, private universities charge greater costs under the pretext of improving quality. As a result, the lower middle class groups are increasingly marginalized.

This condition contradicts the constitutional ideals that emphasize the right of every citizen to get education. Facts on the ground, access to higher education is now more determined by the contents of the wallet, not potential and intelligence.

Countries Have Difficulty Financing

The government has actually allocated 20 percent of the state budget for education. However, that large number is not automatically able to answer problems. In the midst of the pressures of the fiscal deficit and other subsidy burdens, the state has difficulty increasing the portion for universities. As a result, campuses rely a lot on student income.

Furthermore, the Bidikmisi scholarship or KIP Lecture which should be a helper for poor students is far from sufficient. Many prospective students have to bury their college dreams because they fail to get financial assistance, even though academically they deserve it.

BOS Fund: Displaced For Other Programs?

The Integrity Assessment Survey (SPI) conducted by the KPK is still found in 2024 Education, misuse of BOS funds. Another irony arises at the level of primary and secondary education. The School Operational Assistance Fund (BOS), which should focus on reducing student education costs, is often absorbed into other programs on behalf of "improving the quality of education". For example, ceremonial activities, training projects, to programs that are more politically nuanced than actually answering school needs.

When BOS funds are not optimal, the quality of basic and secondary education weakens. In the end, the gap widens when children from poor schools fail to compete in university. In fact, this condition is still a lot of schools that are damaged, many schools do not have or lack toilets, this chain of problems has not been improved, emphasizing that the root of the problem of access to higher education is not only the high cost of UKT, but also the poor distribution of education funds from the elementary level.

Reform for the allocation of the state budget, ensures that education funds actually reach schools and universities, not being sucked in by bureaucracy or ceremonial programs. The chartering of scholarships expands the reach of KIP Lectures or other scholarships so that access is no longer limited to certain groups.

The strict control of BOS funds is expected to restore BOS functions to school real needs, such as salaries for honorary teachers, learning facilities, and basic operational costs.

Head of P2G Advocacy Division, Iman Zanatul Heri, criticized in addition to the use of appropriate allocations for the use of educational funds, for example the use of allocations for Free Nutrition Food which absorb large portions in the APBN. So that many programs are neglected for the use of boss funds to increase teaching and learning activities so that they are neglected.

"The program of the free feeding scheme is expected not to take from the boss's funds, because it will interfere with programs that have been allocated by the Bos fund activities," said Iman.

Collaborative models, involving universities, the business world, and civil society in creating joint financing schemes, so that students do not only depend on the state.

High education is expensive and difficult to access is not only a matter of cost, but also a reflection of the country's failure to manage education funds fairly and on target. As long as the budget leaks into other programs, while students are forced to pay dearly, the goal of educating the nation's life will only be an empty slogan.