Indonesia targets free public schooling amid funding concerns
Indonesia is pursuing plans to make public schools free at all levels, stretching from kindergarten to university, but mounting pressure on the state budget could hinder the government from pulling off the massive undertaking, analysts have said. President Prabowo Subianto summoned his ministers last week to discuss a plan to “accelerate the implementation of free education in public schools”,…
Indonesia is aiming to make all levels of public education, from kindergarten through university, tuition-free, but the ambitious plan faces financial challenges. President Prabowo Subianto has called for accelerating the implementation of free education and intends to eliminate fees at state universities within two to four weeks.
The government estimates it needs to allocate up to 302 trillion rupiah annually to cover the costs, including 93.7 trillion rupiah for university tuition elimination. Analysts are skeptical about the feasibility of this proposal, as the budget is not guaranteed and depends on reallocating funds from potential corruption. While the government currently subsidises operational costs of public schools, parents still bear fees like books, uniforms, and voluntary donations.
Education experts argue that the funds allocated to education are often used for routine expenditures rather than improving teacher competency or facility quality. It is suggested that the government should direct its limited budget towards empowering educators rather than solely focusing on free education.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
