Elementary and Secondary Education Budget Cut by IDR 8 Trillion

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The budget of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has been cut by Rp 8 trillion from the total of Rp 33.5 trillion previously agreed upon in the state budget or APBN. It is hoped that children's right to receive quality education will not be affected by this budget-saving policy.

Education observer from Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) Doni Koesoema, on Wednesday (5/2/2025) in Jakarta, assessed that the budget cuts for the Ministry of Education and Culture were too large and not necessarily efficient. In fact, this ministry is responsible for the future generation of Indonesia.

He hopes that children's right to receive quality education will not be affected by the government's budget-saving policies. The mission to achieve 13 years of compulsory education must be realized.

"These cuts are too big. These savings are not necessarily efficient," said Doni.

Doni emphasized that several budgets that should not be cut by the Ministry of Education and Culture include teachers' salaries and allowances, operational assistance funds for educational units (BSOP), funds for teacher training and guidance, and scholarship funds for students. This is because all of these are crucial programs in the field of education.

The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, revealed that the budget he currently manages is around Rp 25.5 trillion out of the total Rp 724.2 trillion education budget in the state budget. Despite the budget cuts, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will still implement around 25 priority programs in 2025.

"Yes, the smaller the budget, the faster it runs out, something like that," said Mu'ti in a working meeting with Committee III of the DPD RI, last Monday (3/2/2025).

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto requested the central and regional government officials to save the 2025 budget by up to Rp 306.7 trillion. The results of this extensive efficiency will be used to support the implementation of Prabowo's priority programs and to anticipate the challenging economic conditions ahead.

Several priority programs of the Ministry of Education and Culture for 2025 include the Indonesia Smart Program (PIP) assistance to 18.59 million elementary and secondary school students, the provision of affirmative assistance to 3,879 students from 3T areas or special regions and students from Papua through the Secondary Education Affirmation Program (ADEM), and the equalization of access to education through 13 years of compulsory education.

These cuts are too big. These savings are not necessarily efficient.

Subsequently, the provision of allowances for non-ASN teachers in the form of Teacher Professional Allowance (TPG) for 392,802 teachers, Incentive Allowance for 57,000 teachers, Special Teacher Allowance (TKG) for 28,892 teachers, and Teacher Professional Education (PPG) for 395,235 in-service teachers and 19,808 pre-service teachers.

"We will use it efficiently, on target, and meaningfully," he said.

The directive to implement efficiency is stated in Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025 concerning Spending Efficiency in the Implementation of the 2025 State Budget and Regional Budget, which was signed by President Prabowo on January 22, 2025.

In the presidential instruction, Prabowo ordered his cabinet to carry out state spending efficiency of IDR 306.7 trillion throughout the 2025 budget year. This efficiency consists of budget savings in all ministries/institutions of IDR 256.1 trillion and budget transfer efficiency to regions of IDR 50.5 trillion.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Committee III DPD RI Filep Wamafma stated that the problem of education, especially at the elementary and secondary levels in Indonesia is very complex. The gap in access to education due to the lack of schools, educators, and limited infrastructure is still very much felt.

Not only that, there is still a welfare gap between State Civil Apparatus (ASN) and non-ASN or honorary teachers, both in state and private schools, as well as inadequate teaching competency standards.

"Education problems in Indonesia are still very complex and involve various interrelated aspects," said Filep.

DPD RI member from Papua Province David Harol Waromi also asked the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to provide easy access for children in Papua to go to school. Because, they have to travel quite a long distance to go to school.

"So on this occasion we ask the Minister to provide school buses for Papuan children to go to school. It's a shame, sir, the children have to walk a long distance to school," said David.