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9 clusters · 39 sources · 43 days · First seen · Last updated

Indonesian free state education proposal

Overview

President Prabowo Subianto has proposed a policy to provide free education across all state-run levels, from elementary school to state universities. The initiative aims to ensure equitable access for all Indonesian children regardless of economic background. During a meeting at the Merdeka Palace on September 23, 2026, officials discussed mechanisms to support a 13-year compulsory education commitment.

In the primary sector, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti announced that starting in 2027, kindergarten students from low-income families will receive Program Indonesia Pintar (PIP) funds of Rp450,000 per year. To support infrastructure, the government plans to revitalize 71,744 educational units by 2027, prioritizing schools in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions. Additionally, the ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ program, which targets underprivileged and former drop-out students, currently serves over 44,000 students across 182 locations.

To address higher education, Minister Brian Yuliarto stated the government is calculating the budget required to cover approximately 2.8 million students, with initial estimates near Rp93.7 trillion. The proposed policy for state universities includes the abolition of Single Tuition Fees (UKT) and Institutional Development Fees (IPI). To fund these initiatives, the government may utilize the 2027 Draft State Budget, which allocates roughly Rp820.9 trillion for education, or consider assets seized from corruption convicts.

Legislators and academics continue to urge the inclusion of private higher education institutions (PTS) in the program. Lalu Hadrian Irfani of the DPR RI suggested increasing the Kartu Indonesia Pintar (KIP) Kuliah quota for private students, while Professor R. Agus Sartono argued that excluding PTS could widen inequality. The Indonesian Private Higher Education Association (APTISI) supports the initiative but recommends prioritizing students in the lowest economic deciles (1–4) regardless of campus status. As of November 2026, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is reviewing implementation scenarios and potential phased rollouts.

Entities

Prabowo Subianto · Indonesia · Brian Yuliarto · Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology · Abdul Mu'ti

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Indonesia Ministry of Higher Education studies free tuition for state universities

    Indonesia's Ministry of Higher Education is reviewing a proposal to implement free tuition at state universities starting in 2027.

  2. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Indonesia finalizes free education policy including university fee abolition

    Indonesia is finalizing a free education policy covering PAUD through higher education, including the abolition of university tuition fees (UKT) and development fees (IPI) to ensure equitable access.

  3. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Indonesia plans phased rollout of free public and state university education

    President Prabowo Subianto has proposed a phased rollout of free public and state university education in Indonesia, prompting calls from APTISI to include low-income students at private universities.

  4. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Indonesian officials urge free tuition to include private universities

    Indonesian officials and academics urge the government to extend proposed free university tuition subsidies to private institutions to ensure educational equity and support low-income students.

  5. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Indonesia plans free education from elementary school to state universities

    President Prabowo Subianto plans to implement free education from elementary school to state universities, while the Sekolah Rakyat program expands to support over 44,000 underprivileged students.

  6. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    DPP KNPI supports free higher education proposal

    DPP KNPI Chairman Ali Hanafiah supports President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to provide free education through the university level to improve human resource quality and ease the financial burden on citizens.

  7. [POLITICS] 10 sources
    Indonesia plans phased free education and school revitalization by 2027

    Indonesia is launching phased free education by 2027, targeting 71,744 school revitalizations and implementing new welfare schemes for teachers and honorary staff to improve national education access.

  8. [POLITICS] 28 sources
    Indonesia plans free public education from elementary to university

    President Prabowo Subianto is planning a free public education program from elementary school to state universities, with an estimated Rp93.7 trillion budget for higher education starting in 2027.

  9. [POLITICS] 12 sources
    Prabowo Subianto proposes free state education from elementary to university

    President Prabowo Subianto plans to make all state-run education, from elementary school to university, free. Officials are analyzing the fiscal impact, with initial costs estimated at Rp93.7 trillion.

Sources

antaranews.com · bangkaterkini.id · bantenpos.id · beritajatim.com · clovermedia.jp · cnbcindonesia.com · distrikbantennews.com · disway.id · dnaberita.com · duta.co · dutatv.com · economy.okezone.com · en.antaranews.com · fvw.de · globalcybernews.com · halosemarang.id · harianjogja.com · inews.id · jawapos.com · jpnn.com · jurnas.com · katadata.co.id · kemenkopmk.go.id · koranedukasi.id · m.jpnn.com · malang-post.com · matamata.com · matapapua.com · medcom.id · minews.id · nasional.sindonews.com · nu.or.id · pemilu2024.harianjogja.com · prokalteng.jawapos.com · republika.co.id · rri.co.id · senggang.republika.co.id · suarainvestor.com · viva.co.id

This summary has been updated 14 times: see revision history