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Nadiem cancels university tuition hike
Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim announced on Monday that incoming state university students this year would not be subjected to tuition increase, in a policy U-turn following a meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
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Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim attends a hearing with lawmakers from House of Representatives Commission X overseeing education on May 21, 2024, following public backlash over a January education ministerial regulation that allows universities to increase tuition for certain students. (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
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ducation, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim announced on Monday that incoming state university students this year would not be subjected to a tuition increase, in a policy U-turn following a meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Nadiem came to the Palace on Monday noon, saying to the press that he was there to discuss several education-related policies with Jokowi, including the single tuition fee (UKT) system, which changed under a ministerial regulation Nadiem signed in January to allow state universities to increase tuition.
The UKT system was launched in 2013 as a way to streamline university tuition payments, with the single fee adjusted based on a student’s economic situation.
Through the January ministerial regulation, Nadiem paved the way for a rise in tuition fees for this year’s incoming students, a decision that triggered a wave of protests from students who complained that the policy could make tuition fees burdensome for prospective students.
Nadiem told reporters after the meeting with Jokowi on Monday that his ministry “has decided to cancel the tuition increase”.
“There will be no students impacted by the increase in tuition this year, and we will also evaluate each demand from state universities for an increase in their respective tuition fees, and [even if their reasons are justified], it will only happen next year,” Nadiem said.
Nadiem also said that should there be any increase in tuition next year, the rise would be fair and reasonable.
