Indonesia plans free education from elementary school to state universities

President Prabowo Subianto has announced plans to provide free education from elementary school through state universities in Indonesia. To fund this initiative, the government is considering using assets seized from corruption convicts and other crimes. While the 2027 state budget allocates over Rp800 trillion for education, the specific amount dedicated to the free education program is still being determined.

For higher education specifically, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, stated that initial budget estimates reach approximately Rp93.7 trillion, though this figure remains under analysis. The implementation will involve coordination between the Ministry of Finance and Danantara.

In a related effort to expand educational access, the government is growing the ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ program, which targets children from underprivileged families and those who have dropped out of school. Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf reported that the program currently operates in 182 locations, serving over 44,000 students. More than 90 of these locations utilize permanent buildings, and the government continues to work on improving human resources and infrastructure to support these vulnerable groups.