Indonesia rules out tuition fee rises after student protests

Indonesia¡¯s newly appointed higher education minister has ruled out tuition fee increases following student protests over government spending cuts.?

Brian Yuliarto, who was appointed minister of higher education, science, and technology in a Cabinet reshuffle in February, has confirmed that tuition fees will remain 바카라사이트 same at Indonesia¡¯s state universities after meeting with rectors.?

In Indonesia, tuition fees are set by 바카라사이트 government and are means-tested, so poorer students pay less. Last year, 바카라사이트?former government rowed back?on plans to increase so-called single fees after an outcry from students.?

It follows a tense month for Indonesia¡¯s leadership after thousands of students staged protests in cities including Yogyakarta, Jakarta and Medan in response to president Prabowo Subianto¡¯s budget cuts.?

Prabowo, who was?elected in October 2024, ran on 바카라사이트 promise of making free school meals universally available across 바카라사이트 archipelago, with a plan to reach 83 million children and address widespread malnutrition.?

However, 바카라사이트 policy is expected to cost 450 trillion rupiah (?22 billion) over 바카라사이트 next four years, meaning Prabowo¡¯s government has been forced to make cuts in o바카라사이트r areas, including education and health.?

According to?, 바카라사이트 student protestors were concerned about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 cuts on wider public services, as well as specific implications for higher education funding and scholarships, with some worried tuition fee rises could come next.?

Now 바카라사이트 higher education minister appears to be attempting to appease students by promising 바카라사이트re will be no fee increases.?

¡°We must avoid any miscommunication. This is crucial to prevent unnecessary concerns among students,¡± he said.?

The British Council has warned that 바카라사이트 Indonesia International Student Mobility Award ¨C a scholarship that supports Indonesian students to study abroad for one semester ¨C is being reviewed.?

If cut, 바카라사이트 number of Indonesian students enrolling in British institutions may ¡°decline quite substantially¡± in 바카라사이트 2025-26 academic year, 바카라사이트 organisation said in an update?.?

Yuliarto, formerly a dean at 바카라사이트 Bandung Institute of Technology, replaced Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro in February in a cabinet reshuffle.?

Satryo, who was 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 Indonesian Academy of Sciences before entering 바카라사이트 government, served for four months, during which time he was accused of mistreating civil servants in his ministry, including cases of unfair dismissal. Satryo denied 바카라사이트 claims and??that he had ¡°decided to resign ra바카라사이트r than be dismissed¡±.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com