Jokowi Wants Higher Education Budget Raised Now; the Next President Will Have to Continue

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi asked for an increase in the research and development budget for universities. Speaking at the 29th Convention and 25th Annual Meeting of the Indonesian Chancellors Forum in Surabaya on January 15, Jokowi said that the government must increase the budget now, so that the program will be continued by the next president.

In his speech, Jokowi stated that the role of universities in research and development (R&D) must be reinforced. He asked the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim to immediately increase the research and higher education budget.

The former Jakarta Governor said that funding for education and research must be made as optimal as possible. He said that funding would not only come from the state and regional budgets, but also the use of endowment funds in the education sector.

Jokowi also said that he wanted funds to be obtained by connecting universities with industry through matching funds.

Jokowi said that over the last 15 years, the state budget allocation for the education sector has reached Rp6,400 trillion. According to Jokowi, that figure is still not enough to meet the needs of higher education graduates in Indonesia.

"We need it. Again, it requires a large budget and financing, but still, it is our obligation to find a way so that our ratio can be raised," he said.

TEMPO.CO

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