Budget Efficiency Should Not Disrupt Investment in Education

 Investment in education is believed to be the key to the development of civilization and the progress of the nation. Careless budget efficiency policies in education are feared to threaten the future of the nation's next generation.

The budget efficiency for the year 2025 targeting the education sector has been sharply criticized amidst the government's commitment to accelerate the preparation of superior human resources towards Golden Indonesia 2045. This is considered to be due to the bloated government structure. In fact, several other countries have started to implement a leaner government cabinet.

Since last weekend, the online world has been abuzz with hashtags calling attention to the emergency state of Indonesia's education due to budget cuts in both the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek). In addition to the emergency warning signs with red Garuda images, the hashtags #SaveKIPKuliah and #DaruratPendidikan have also been widely discussed on social media.

The National Coordinator of the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), Ubaid Matraji, in Jakarta, Sunday (16/2/2025), stated that education is an investment in the nation's future. "Do not let Indonesian children and students become victims of policies that do not favor them," said Ubaid.

Ubaid considers the current education budget policy to indicate the government's weak commitment to education. Budget cuts, inconsistency in statements between ministries, and the reduced number of education aid recipients are tangible forms of the government's lack of seriousness in ensuring access to education for all citizens.

The government budget cuts should further support the strengthening of the education sector. Moreover, there is a mandatory spending of at least 20 percent that must be fulfilled by the government, as stated in Article 31 of the 1945 Constitution.

Of the total education budget for 2025, which amounts to IDR 724 trillion, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education received an allocation of 4.63 percent or IDR 33.5 trillion. This raises significant questions, considering the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has the primary responsibility of ensuring the right to education for Indonesian children as mandated in Article 31 of the 1945 Constitution and implementing the 13-year Compulsory Education program.

However, it is regrettable that the emerging budget cuts in education are causing concern. Primarily, this relates to the reduction in allocations for scholarships needed by the community and educators, from the Kartu Indonesia Pintar Kuliah scholarships and other scholarships to advanced study scholarships for lecturers. This also includes welfare support for non-civil servant lecturers.

Ubaid urged the government to revise the education budget policy to be more favorable to sectors that truly need it, particularly the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, which have direct responsibility for primary, secondary, and higher education. "Most importantly, ensure that there are no cuts to educational assistance programs such as the Smart Indonesia Program and KIP-Kuliah, which directly impact access to education for students from underprivileged families," said Ubaid.

Separately, Professor of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada R Agus Sartono stated that efficiency measures must be carried out carefully so as not to have a negative impact on the quality of education in Indonesia. Cuts must be made selectively. Budget reductions should target administrative programs, such as budget reductions for official travel, comparative studies, seminars, and should not have a direct impact on the quality of education.

"Why not efficiency by streamlining the government structure? Other countries have slimmer cabinets, but the current government's condition with a fat position, this message of efficiency does not appear," said Agus.

Agus reminded that the education budget cuts should not ignore the rights of the main actors driving the education sector, namely teachers, lecturers, and education personnel. Because, they have an important role in education.

"If the infrastructure can be postponed for 1-2 years, but the rights of teachers and lecturers cannot be postponed, including the recruitment of teachers and lecturers to fill those who have retired. If this is allowed to continue, there will be a gap. If the welfare of teachers and lecturers is not fulfilled, it will give rise to a negative signal for the best graduates to work as teachers," said Agus.

Agus emphasized that investment in education is the key to building civilization and national progress. He gave examples of developed countries such as in Europe that have a strong academic tradition because they place the profession of teachers and lecturers in an honorable position.

"Without education, there will be no civilization. Developed countries have committed to investing in human resource development," he said.