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LPDP awardees split over policy to return back to Indonesia
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Making their mark: LPDP has sent thousands of Indonesia’s brightest students each year to leading universities at home and abroad, financing their tuition fees as well as living costs. (Courtesy of/Shutterstock)
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minister’s recent remark on Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) scholarship awardees' right to not return to Indonesia upon completing studies abroad, which contradicts the program’s general policy, has drawn public scrutiny and sparked further discussion about the state of the local job market.
LPDP, managed by the Finance Ministry, requires its awardees to return to Indonesia after graduation and to stay for twice the period of their study with an added one year before deciding to go abroad again.
While the program’s policy has largely been followed, many prospective applicants have taken issue with the strict commitment policy. Scores of awardees have also reportedly avoided the obligation.
Many members of the public believe the awardees, funded by their tax money, should return and contribute to the country’s development. The government has allocated around 20 percent of the national education budget for the scholarship program since 2013.
Yet recently, the minister of the newly established Higher Education, Science and Technology Ministry, Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro, made a rather controversial statement regarding the most frequently debated LPDP policy.
“I don’t think the awardees should be required to [return home]. We indeed allow them to make their mark anywhere in the world,” Satryo was quoted by Kompas.com as saying earlier this month.
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