Students Demonstrate Education Budget Efficiency, Palace Denies

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Student demonstrations to protest the budget cuts in education took place in various regions. The Palace quickly emphasized that the operational costs of universities as well as the allocation of scholarships and KIP College are not affected by the budget efficiency measures.

The demonstration took place at several points in Jakarta, Monday (17/2/2025). Around the horse statue in Central Jakarta, students from the All-Indonesia Student Executive Board held a protest. They came from, among others, the University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, IPB University, and UPN Veteran Jakarta.

In the afternoon, a demonstration also took place around the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta. Trisakti University students protested at the end of Majapahit Street, one corner of the Palace fence bordering the Harmoni intersection. Consequently, the route from Juanda Street to Majapahit Street was closed by the authorities.

One of the students of Trisakti University, Susilo, stated that the demonstration was held to protest the efficiency of higher education budget carried out by the government. When the allocation for higher education is cut, private universities can also be affected because there is government assistance for private universities.

One of the speakers also expressed concern that tuition fees would be increased when higher education budget assistance for private universities was cut.

President Prabowo Subianto, according to the Head of the Presidential Communication Office Hasan Nasbi, stated that the operational costs of universities, KIP scholarships, and other scholarships must not be reduced at all. Therefore, students are expected not to worry about the increase in tuition fees.

"The President said that the information circulating about cutting scholarships, KIP college, or operational costs for higher education is completely untrue. And the President said 'This must not be done'," said Hasan.

So far, no student representatives have been received by the Palace.

Meanwhile, in Papua, a demonstration was held to protest free nutritious meals (MBG). According to the protesters, what the people of Papua need is not free nutritious meals, but free education.

Hasan invited residents to demonstrate and express their opinions. However, he hopes there will be no violence in the demonstration.

In addition, according to Hasan, residents may reject MBG if they feel they do not need it. However, the rejection of a group of residents is expected not to hinder the rights of other residents to get free nutritious food.

"If someone says it's not necessary (MBG), they can say that. They can say 'we don't need it', that's fine. But if they hold a demonstration to cancel and reject it, it will hinder the rights of other brothers and sisters, other friends, to get free nutritious food services," said Hasan.