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More young people encouraged to pursue higher education under revised KIP Kuliah
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(Courtesy of Kemdikbud)
T
he government’s move to revise the Indonesia Smart Card (KIP) Kuliah Merdeka program by increasing financial assistance for university students is expected to encourage more young people from low-income families who have performed well academically to pursue higher education.
Under the revised KIP Kuliah Merdeka program, select returning students for the 2021 academic year will get more financial assistance for tuition fees and for living expenses.
The revised KIP Kuliah Merdeka program was revealed by Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Anwar Makrim during the virtual launch of Merdeka Belajar Episode Sembilan Kartu Indonesia Pintar (KIP) Kuliah Merdeka in Jakarta recently.
The government has allocated Rp 2.5 trillion for financial assistance for university students for the 2021-2022 academic year, higher than the allocated Rp 2.3 trillion in 2020.
Unlike the average Rp 2.4 million for tuition fees that each holder of a KIP Kuliah card received per semester in 2020, the amount of tuition fees under the KIP Kuliah Merdeka program 2021 will be determined based on factors like the program of study and the level of accreditation that the university has. The tuition fee support ranges from Rp 2.4 million to Rp 12 million per semester.
For example, holders of KIP Kuliah Merdeka cards enrolling in a program at a university with an “A” accreditation will get the maximum of Rp 12 million per student per semester.
When it comes to living expenses, holders of the KIP Kuliah card for the 2020 academic year got Rp 700,000 per student per month for all regions.
However, holders of the KIP Kuliah Merdeka card for the 2021 academic year will get more because the stipend has been adjusted to the regional price index, which is based on the 2019 National Social and Economic Survey (Susesnas). The amount ranges from Rp 800,000 to Rp 1,400,000 per student per month.
Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim asked high-achieving students from low-income families to take advantage of the KIP Kuliah Merdeka program provided by the government.
“There are several opportunities to enroll as a recipient of the KIP Kuliah Merdeka card. One is through the channel of the UTBK-SBMPTN [state university entrance test],” he said.
Students from low-income families that fail to register at state university entrance selections or state university entrance tests can still apply for the KIP Kuliah card through the independent selection channel for state university from August to October 2021, depending on the schedule for independent selection at each state university. They may also register through private university entrance selection at any time before private university registration is complete.
“Information on registration for KIP Kuliah for new student candidates for the 2021 period can be found at our website, kip-kuliah.kemendikbud.go.id,” Nadiem said.
Nadiem called on universities to encourage students from the low-income families to register for university and superior programs of study at the best universities. “Just start with students from low-income families and open all study programs as wide as possible for the recipients of the KIP Kuliah program because the limitations related to education cost will no longer be a problem,” said the minister.
In response to the minister’s statment, Hasanudin University rector Dwia Aries Tina Palubuhu said the university supported the program and expected that it would run successfully. The university would spread the word of the program to schools in South Sulawesi.
“We will also help students that are in need of assistance by preparing administrative things so that the candidates will meet the requirements,” said Dwia.
Syaiful Huda of House of Representatives Commission X said the legislature appreciated the Education and Culture Ministry’s initiative to provide Indonesian young people wide access to higher education.
“Through the KIP Kuliah program, we want young people from all corners of Indonesia to be able to make achievements for the future of Indonesia,” he said by video.
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said he was enthusiastic about the sustained KIP program from elementary school (SD) to university. “This encourages SD, senior high school (SMP) and SMA students not to be worried about advancing their education. If you have a passion for higher study but have financial constraint, the government has prepared a scholarship under the KIP Kuliah program,” he said.
State Bank Association (Himbara) chairman Sunarso expressed support for the distribution of the KIP Kuliah Merdeka cards. Himbara, as the distributor of KIP cards, will ensure that all working units of the association will cash the cards well.
“We are committed to continuously innovating to provide the best financial services and serve as a one-stop financial services shop to develop the KIP Kuliah Merdeka program,” said Sunarso, who is also president director of BRI.
