Complaints about the cost of studying at PTN, students should not be constrained by studying

A single tuition increase at state universities makes students scream. Tuition fees are still being complained about.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Hundreds of students from Universitas Jenderal Soedirman Purwokerto held a demonstration to reject the increase of the Single Tuition Fee at the Rectorate Building in Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java, on Friday (26/4/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Adjustments tuition fees at a number of state universities have recently received public attention because they are considered to be burdensome for students. In 2024, an increase in single tuition fees was approved because the government adjusted the unit standards for higher education operational costs.

Secretary General of the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) Tjitjik Sri Tjahjandarie, stated in Jakarta on Friday (10/5/2024), that based on regulations, the single tuition fee (BKT) must be reviewed regularly.

Lastly, the BKT was determined in 2020 based on the cost calculation from 2019. An evaluation is needed as the BKT is considered less relevant to current cost standards.

The Ministry of Education and Culture must assess the amount of BKT. New regulations have been issued that refer to conditions in 2023, or over two years from now. "Overall, there are aspects that need to be calculated. For the amount of BKT in 2019, there was no Independent Campus Learning (MBKM). Now it needs to be included in the calculation factor for standard operational costs for higher education," he said.

The determination of a single tuition fee (UKT) for students in 2024 refers to the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Regulation (Permendikbudristek) No. 2 of 2024 concerning the Standard Unit Cost of Higher Education Operations in State Universities in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Environment.

In addition, the determination of the 2024 student UKT refers to the Minister of Education and Culture's Decree No. 54/P/2024 concerning the Standard Amount of Operational Costs for State Higher Education Units. Higher education institutions are encouraged not to increase the single tuition fee, but rather to add more UKT classes.

Also read: Indonesian parents find it increasingly difficult to pay for their children's college education

According to regulations, the Standard Unit Cost of Higher Education Operations (SSBOPT) is calculated based on the operational costs needed for higher education. This is determined by taking into account three parameters, namely the type of study program, the cost index of the region, and the national standard achievement of higher education.

The determination of student tuition fees is based on the principle of fairness or in accordance with family ability, but the amount cannot exceed the single tuition fee (BKT) that has been set.

Reaping protests

As reported on Kompas.id some time ago, the President of the University of North Sumatra's Student Council (USU) M Aziz Syahputra stated that this year's UKT at USU has increased again by around 30-50 percent. The UKT for new students who have been accepted is raised when new student admissions have reached the stage of re-registration.

Previous objections to the increase in UKT also emerged at Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) Purwokerto, Central Java.

Coordinator of the Unsoed Student Demonstration Action, Fadhil Syahputra, emphasized that students demand the amount of UKT (Integrated Service Fee) be returned to the old rules before the increase set by Rector Regulation Number 6 of 2024, and now updated with Regulation Number 9 of 2024 regarding Education Costs for Unsoed Students.

There are also protests from students of the University of Riau (Unri) regarding tuition fees on social media. However, Unri student Khariq Anhar was reported to the police after creating content criticizing the tuition fees. The police report was filed by University of Riau Rector Sri Indarti on allegations of defamation, but eventually, the report was withdrawn or not pursued.

In her official statement, Riau University's rector, Sri Indarti, stated that there is room for criticism, suggestions, and input on policies, including institutional development fees and tuition fees. Regarding education funding, the campus prioritizes the principle of justice and guarantees the community's right to access a decent education.

According to Tjitjik, universities are authorized to adjust the Tuition Fee based on family's financial ability, but it should not exceed the BKT. The Tuition Fee for Group 1 is Rp 500,000 and Rp 1 million for Group 2, which must be provided by State Universities. "As stipulated, State Universities are obliged to provide a quota of 20 percent for students from disadvantaged families," he said.

Fair

The Director General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology, Ministry of Education and Culture-Research and Technology, Abdul Haris stated that the principle of determining the Tuition Fee (UKT) is justice as an effort to find a balance between willingness and ability to pay. "People choose to pay a low fee, even though their ability to pay is high," he said.

"In the 2024 regulations, we are striving to improve the governance of state universities and make it more transparent. Therefore, state universities and legal entities are given space to transparently and accountably implement the determination of UKT fees as they undergo auditing. The Ministry sets BKT or minimal management costs for a study program, which serve as the upper limit reference. Therefore, there will be no increase," said Haris.

Haris stressed that prioritizing the community can no longer remain a commitment for the state university. "No student should be hindered from studying due to financial issues," he said.

The Rector of Padang State University, Ganefri, stated that the Ministry of Education and Culture and Research has set the range of tuition fees up to 11 classes. "The determination of which tuition fee group a student falls into depends on the financial capabilities of the student's family, based on the data provided," he said.

PTNs and PTNs with legal entities are given space to carry out UKT determinations in a transparent and accountable manner because they are audited.

Separately, the Chairman of the Indonesian Private Higher Education Association (Aptisi), Budi Djatmiko, stated that the cost of education in state universities, especially those with legal entities (PTN-BH), is already the same as private universities, with some even exceeding the tuition fees in private institutions.

However, State Universities are expected by society to be a support system for quality education that is affordable and strengthens the development of quality postgraduate programs, especially for study programs that are still rare.

College scholarships

To expand access to higher education, according to the Head of Education Financing Service Center of the Ministry of Education and Culture and Ministry of Research and Technology, Abdul Kahar, scholarships for financially disadvantaged students should be increased. In 2020, when the Bidikmisi scholarship was changed to the Indonesia Smart Card (KIP) for college, the budget allocation was Rp 3.5 trillion per year, and has now reached Rp 13.9 trillion for almost 1 million recipients.

Also read: Middle Class Bears Heavy Burden of Paying for Children's College Education

KOMPAS/NIKSON SINAGA

Students of the University of North Sumatra held a dialogue with the Vice Rectors of USU while protesting against a single tuition fee increase of 30-50 percent at the Office of the USU Rectorate Bureau in Medan on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

Although the budget has increased, the coverage for new scholarship recipients is only around 6 percent of students from underprivileged families. According to regulations, a minimum of 20 percent of the student quota should be reserved for underprivileged students.

However, the allocation of KIP Kuliah is prioritized for recipients of the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP). KIP recipients from high schools/vocational schools number around 1.1 million people per year, but the government's allocation of KIP Kuliah is only around 200,000 people per year. "Higher education institutions are obliged to provide scholarships other than KIP Kuliah for financially incapable students," says Kahar.