Prabowo Subianto, the President-elect, has expressed his commitment to reducing the Single Tuition Fee (UKT) for public universities. He plans to work diligently towards this goal during his upcoming leadership. This statement was made by Prabowo during an exclusive interview on TvOne titled “Prabowo Subianto Speaks for Indonesia” on Wednesday, (22/5).
Prabowo emphasized the importance of keeping fees low in state universities, which are funded by public money. He believes that fees should ideally be minimal or even free, and he is prepared to put in the necessary effort to make this a reality.
Furthermore, Prabowo addressed the shift in the education system since the New Order era, where education has become increasingly commercialized and influenced by capitalist values. He stressed the importance of education as a public good and a social obligation for the country, rather than treating it solely as a market commodity.
Looking ahead, Prabowo outlined plans to make improvements in the education sector in response to the changing times. He mentioned the industrial downstreaming program introduced by President Jokowi as a way to generate additional revenue for the government and enhance the quality of education through added value.
In summary, Prabowo’s vision for education in Indonesia underlines the need for accessible and affordable education in public universities, emphasizing the social responsibility of the government towards its citizens.
