Stop expensive UKT

Quality education is not characterized by expensive UKT, but by quality education that is able to compete rationally.

KOMPAS/HERYUNANTO

Illustration

The expensive single tuition (UKT) polemic must be taken seriously by the government. This is because education touches the entire community without conditions if this country wants to have a knowledgeable generation and a developed country in the future.

However, if the current situation is allowed to continue, it will lead to human stagnation due to educational limitations. This condition will bring about marginalization that will continue to plague the nation with the burden of a society living without knowledge, ignorance, and poverty.

Single tuition fees and initial fees (institutional development fees) are not expensive without reason. The author sees at least three main triggers.

First, the practice of commodification of education, which places education as an investment object, thus leading to commercialization.

Second, clusterization of higher education which gave rise to the classes of Legal Entity State Universities (PTNBH), Public Service Agency PTNs (PTNBLU), Work Unit PTNs (Satker), and Private Universities (PTS ).

Third, the absence of an educational road map that can be used as a guide for the state to direct education according to the nation's ideals.

Also read: Single Tuition Fee: Conflict over Higher Education Funding

The first issue regarding education disruption through the Job Creation Act is strongly felt, which places education as an investment object. Education can be carried out by anyone, seemingly eliminating the role and responsibility of the state. However, the 1945 Constitution mandates that education is the responsibility of the state.

However, the contribution of other parties is possible without relinquishing control over the core policy. Therefore, the nature of the contribution from other parties should only serve as a support for government policies, not as a determinant of policies. This situation then places the state on the same level as education investors.

Secondly, the issue of PTNBH clustering which is regulated in Government Regulation Number 4 of 2014 concerning the Implementation of Higher Education is like fire in the chaff. Since the beginning of PTNBH's formation, it has not actually aimed to encourage campus capitalization, but rather to encourage campus competitiveness in terms of science and technology (science and technology) development.

Moreover, a strong interpretation from PTNBH is that by becoming PTNBH, one can freely search for and use money.

Quality education is not characterized by expensive UKT prices, but is characterized by quality education that is able to compete rationally and intelligently. However, deviations occur when there is no PTNBH road map which is the reference and benchmark for all PTNBH to move forward. Then, the regeneration of PTNBH managers has been weak since the beginning of managing PTNBH or PTN which later became a legal entity, experiencing misleading due to non-standard references.

In addition, the strong interpretation of PTNBH is that by becoming a PTNBH, one can have the freedom to search for and use money. This loose interpretation subsequently led some rectors to be trapped in very dangerous corrupt practices, which are detrimental to the sustainability of the country's education for future generations.

The three policies of the ministerial agencies that developed the roadmap for the National Higher Education Financial Fund have also distorted the government's role in universities. Based on the author's notes, there are three reasons for the increase in tuition fees and admission fees at universities due to the absence of the National Higher Education Financial Fund roadmap.

First, the government's decision to terminate the civil servant performance allowance (tukin) for PTNBH. The presence of Presidential Regulation Number 32 of 2016 Article 3 Section 1 part h states that civil servants of PTNBH do not receive performance allowances from the government.

This Statement has distorted the role of the central government and shifted it to the chancellor's job so that the chancellor then tries to find replacement money for tukin to carry out the mandate of the presidential decree through the campus. Here we can see that the chancellor not only plays a role as a leader in creating science and technology, but also becomes an entrepreneur who has to make money.

Both reductions in support for PTNBH spending including building and maintaining buildings and laboratory equipment. In line with the point above, the role of the rector is expanded, including seeking income to maintain the campus, repairing and updating laboratory equipment. In this condition, the campus is forced to struggle to find new sources of income, including from UKT and enrollment fees.

Thirdly, the limited permits granted by the government in developing assets for university financial strengthening are still a challenge. Therefore, the most viable option is to increase tuition fees and admission fees.

Also read: The Troubles of Managing State Universities

Back to the beginning

Before getting too caught up in long-term commercialization, the ministry does not need to be ashamed to retreat to the very beginning of restructuring higher education governance. The first step is to recalculate the needs of higher education in Indonesia. Second, to restore the state's more complete role in building education regardless of parents' income status.

If examined closely, Indonesia is among the countries with a very large number of universities. From the existing number, it must be re-evaluated, how many universities does Indonesia actually need. Of course, this also includes faculties and study programs needed by the country to develop.

The state should not allow education to grow freely like mushrooms during the rain, but rather regulate the quantity and type according to the nation's needs. Indonesia can develop quality education by inviting international researchers to come when the campus develops according to the nation's needs.

This step is also crucial in controlling education so that it doesn't offer degrees with fake abilities. If Indonesia wants to advance with its natural resources, industries based on natural resources must be developed, including its education.

Before getting trapped in long-term commercialization, the ministry should not hesitate to step back to the starting point of restructuring the management of higher education.

The weakness of the government's role can be seen from the fact of the lack of interest in entering natural resource-based higher education institutions, such as agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and forestry. This should be an alarm for the government because this type of education is the backbone of the nation's economy and sovereignty, so that it does not always have to rely on imports and become a country with a strong and resilient food-based industry.

This arrangement is part of the government's role in providing equal opportunities for education to all children to support national development, without having to be saddened by the inability to enroll due to coming from underprivileged families.

The second solution is to restore the government's greater role for all citizens. The factor of scholarships alone cannot solve the big problem as it only helps a small portion of the nation's young people who need education. Meanwhile, the majority of others still cannot afford to go to college due to not meeting scholarship criteria or limited availability of scholarships. The true scholarship for the nation's youth frees them from tuition fees and deposits.

Solution

If tuition fees and enrollment fees are waived, what solutions can be provided for university campuses? There are at least four solutions. First, return the state's function for salaries and allowances for higher education civil servants. Second, gradually equip all campuses with advanced and high-quality laboratory facilities that meet international standards. This second solution is important to ensure that Indonesian campuses are at the same level and standard as world-class universities.

Three, requiring all companies to collaborate with the campus to carry out research and development (RnD) so that the campus's shortcomings and limitations in supporting facilities are anticipated by the company's contribution. Currently there are many companies in Indonesia, but there is no real contribution and cooperation in supporting education. Apart from that, the campus is also a center for the growth and development of the nation's innovation.

Also read: Challenges for Grounding Higher Education Research

Fourth, granting the authority to the university chancellor to develop non-campus assets in strengthening the campus for funding. Many campus assets cannot be used because they do not have permission from the Ministry of Finance, causing the assets to be idle and unused.

Through these four steps, not only can the issue of expensive tuition fees and enrollment fees be resolved, but the quality of education can also be improved. The author believes that within five years, our education can rise again, the economy will develop, and job opportunities will grow.

Now is the moment to make changes in the governance of higher education through the new president. Changing the governance is not difficult because the real challenge is to change the old governance habits.

Yonvitner, IPB University Lecturer

ARSIP IPB UNIVERSITY

Yonvitner