Red Tape Stymies Kampus Merdeka Program at Universities

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) is one of the government’s efforts to make a huge leap in the field of education. However, in reality, campuses are grappling with curriculum, lecturers’ behaviors and information system. This program is also still overshadowed by the administrative red tape at universities and lecturers’ refusal to step out of their comfort zones into a more flexible and adaptive education realm.  

In 2020, Nadiem Makarim, the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, launched four regulations regarding Kampus Merdeka, such as opening new majors, university accreditation changes, university changes to law institutes and rights to study outside of the class for three semesters. The last one sparked complaints.  

The Coordinator of Education Issue of Indonesian Student Council (BEM SI), Yusuf Al Hakim, reported that many students were hindered by credit conversion after studying outside for three semesters.  

"Some are hindered to take next semester's credits," he said in a meeting with Nadiem along with 12 representatives from the Higher Education Directorate in Senayan on Friday, September 17, 2021.  

Last Wednesday, the head of Nurani Dunia Foundation, Imam Prasodjo echoed the same issue. Many interns at Kampung Ilmu are beset by administrative matters. Kampung Ilmu is a program run by his foundation in Tegalwaru, Purwakarta.  

"In Kampung Ilmu, an electrical major student wants to learn gardening, but is prohibited because it's not in line with the major. I said this is another suppression, they should be free to choose any field they want to learn," he said on Wednesday, October 27, 2021.  

Academic, Innovation Development, Service and Research Deputy Rector of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University (Untirta), Agus Sjafari, admitted the problem also happened at his university.  

"Initially, several lecturers and the Head of Undergraduate Programs thought it had to be in line with the major, but they understand that the purpose is aimed at a non-linear one," Agus told Tempo on Wednesday night, November 3, 2021.  

Nevertheless, Untirta students are still directed to choose one program that still correlates with their major, e.g., a social major student can choose economics, because both fields support each other.  

Directorate General of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Nizam, admitted there are still flaws in Kampus Merdeka. "As a new program, the way I see it is killing two birds with a stone."  

According to him, the Kampus Merdeka program cannot function if the facilities and resources are not ready yet. "If we try to arrange everything from scratch, it won't happen at all." 

Read: State Officials Speak About Disbursement of Allowances for Kampus Merdeka Students

DEWI NURITA