The bill, under discussion by the House of Representatives and the government, would amend a number of articles in Law No. 20/2003 on the national education system, Law No. 14/2005 on teachers and lecturers and Law No. 12/2012 on higher education.

A number of House legislators, especially those with close ties to Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), raised concerns about some articles they said would commercialize education and turn it into a business commodity.

For instance, they criticized a provision in the draft bill – a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post – that makes the principle of nonprofit management in higher education institutions an option instead of the obligation stipulated in the 2012 law.

House Legislation Body (Baleg) member Abdul Wahid of the National Awakening Party (PKB), which is regarded as the unofficial political wing of NU, criticized the revision, emphasizing that the country should be responsible for ensuring access to education.

"I'm afraid that this will endanger the nation. Don't commercialize education,” Abdul said during a hearing between Baleg and the government on Tuesday.

Hasani bin Zuber of the Democratic Party, a member of House Commission VIII overseeing social affairs, raised further concerns over an article in the bill requiring people to secure a business license from the central government to establish educational institutions, including pesantren (Islamic boarding schools).

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