Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemenristekdikti), Stella Christie, has expressed concerns about the current state of tuition fees in Indonesia, noting that they are far from ideal. She substantial increase in Unified Tuition Fees (UKT) for the 2024-2025 academic year has posed major challenges for students and their families.
According to Stella, the non-ideal nature of the current Tuition Fees structure is evident in the distribution of students across various fee categories. Data from 2023 indicates that 24.4% of students paid the lowest UKT tier, 69.7% were in the middle category, and 5.9% fell into the highest bracket.
“This situation is not yet ideal. We are working towards making the system more inclusive, covering families from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds,” Stella said during a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
She further detailed the distribution of UKT levels for students admitted through merit-based programs or special invitations across different universities. The data revealed that 29% of these students were in the lowest UKT category, while 3.7% were in the highest.
“In other words, for high-achieving students, the policy is tailored to ensure that UKT is as affordable as possible based on their economic capacity,” she added.
The Role of Faculty Welfare
Rising tuition fees are sometimes viewed as a necessary measure to enhance the quality of higher education. Deputy Minister Stella Christie highlighted that the salaries and welfare of faculty members, which are heavily influenced by Tuition Fees revenue, play a critical role in maintaining education standards.
Efforts to create an ideal UKT system cannot be simplified to blanket fee reductions across the board, she noted. “We cannot take a one-sided approach. This is a comprehensive program within the entire system. If we push for lower UKT, faculty welfare must also be considered,” she said, as reported by Antara.
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Stella emphasized that she, along with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, is reviewing measures to establish an ideal Tuition Fees system. This includes aligning UKT with the operational costs per semester incurred by universities.
Through these efforts, Stella hopes for future policies that create a more balanced tuition structure, fostering fair and high-quality higher education.
The Need for a Comprehensive Review
Pandu Ario Bismo, Deputy Director of the Center for Education Policy Studies (PSPK), echoed these sentiments at the launch of PSPK’s Education Policy Recommendations event held at Djakarta Theatre on October 30, cited from Tempo. He stated that the high cost of UKT disproportionately impacts vulnerable, low-income groups.
In an environment of economic uncertainty, increasing tuition fees have further exacerbated the financial burden on students and their families.
This situation has underscored the urgent need to reassess the structure of Unified Tuition Fees (UKT). Such a review is essential not only to support and improve campus facilities and enhance the welfare of faculty but also to ensure that higher education remains accessible to all segments of society.
(Raidi/Agung)
