Dissecting UKT Tariff Change Rules, Causes of Tuition Fee Confusion

The impact of changes to the Ministry of Education and Culture's regulations has made the differences in UKT costs between groups increasingly unequal.

KOMPAS/NIKSON SINAGA

Students from Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) held a dialogue with the university’s Vice Rectors during a protest rejecting the single tuition fee increase of 30-50 percent at the Office of the USU Rector's Bureau in Medan, North Sumatra, on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

The latest regulation of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) which is the basis for determining the increase in single tuition fees (UKT) is actually not much different from the previous rule. However, the impact of this change has made the difference in UKT costs increasingly sharp, causing upheaval in the world of education.

Over the past month, the increase in UKT has become an issue that has stirred up the world of national education. The noisy discussions of netizens and demonstrations of resistance by students on a number of campuses raised complaints about the increasingly expensive costs of higher education. In fact, it is considered difficult to reach for most students.

The controversy started with the release of policies by several state universities (PTN) stating changes in the nominal cost of Tuition fees for new students in the academic year 2024/2025. The increase in the rate of tuition fees is considered high. In some campuses, the increase in tuition fees even ranges from 30-50 percent. The difference in the latest tuition fee costs compared to the previous year is increasingly felt in the highest tuition fee bracket.

The increase in UKT fees is closely related to the policy issued by the central government. Earlier this year, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology issued regulations on changes in higher education costs. The rules, written in Ministerial Decree No. 2 of 2024, contain changes to the standard unit cost of higher education operations at state universities.

Based on these regulations, the determination of UKT rates is clearly regulated in article 6. UKT rates must have a minimum of two tariff groups, namely group I with a rate of IDR 500,000 and group II with an amount of IDR 1 million. Outside of these two groups, PTN has the right to determine other tariff groups with a maximum nominal value equal to the single tuition fee (BKT).

Also read: UKT burdens students, DPR urges Nadiem to revise PTN BH rules

The grouping and minimum value of the UKT tariff are actually not much different from the Kemendikbudristek regulations used in the previous UKT tariff determination, namely Permendikbudristek Number 25 of 2020. There is only a slight difference in the UKT tariff amount in groups I and II. According to the regulations, the determination of the UKT tariff is also grouped into at least two tariff groups. Group I has a maximum amount of Rp 500,000 and group II has a value of Rp 501,000 to Rp 1 million.

Both regulations also govern the determination of the UKT tariff based on BKT. BKT is the annual operational cost directly related to student learning in study programs at State Universities (PTN). The value of BKT is determined based on the Standard Unit Cost of Higher Education Operations (SSBOPT), which takes into account three considerations. These three considerations include national higher education standards achievement, study program types, and regional cost of living index.

Changes in BKT and UKT

In the two regulations setting UKT for 2020 and 2024, there are differences in the indicators that determine the amount of SSBOPT, although the concept remains the same. In the old rule (2020), the achievement of the national standard for higher education was measured based on accreditation of study programs, higher education institutions, and international accreditation. While in the new rule, the measurement is based on the accreditation of study programs and higher education institutions. Accreditation of study programs also includes international accreditation.

Then, in considering the types of study programs under the old regulations, they were viewed based on the cluster of science and technology. Under the new regulations, measurements are taken from the operational cost structure of the study program in accordance with the characteristics of the graduates' competencies. The consideration of the regional cost index in the old regulations was only based on the cost index of each province. Meanwhile, under the new regulations, the measurement is based on the monthly spending index and the construction cost index of each province.

The three factors that were considered in determining SSBOPT, BKT, and ultimately UKT have undergone changes over time. These changes serve as the basis for adjusting SSBOPT, BKT, and UKT in state universities. However, the impact of these changes is quite significant. This can be seen from the significant increase in BKT. The magnitude of BKT can be seen from the amount of UKT in the highest tariff group. According to the Kemendikbudristek regulations, the assumption is that the UKT tariff in the highest group is the same as or less than the BKT, even though it may be lower.

Also read: Determination of UKT is requested to be transparent and appropriate to student abilities

For example, at the University of Sumatera Utara (USU), the highest tuition fee rates for several programs have increased twofold or more. For the medical education program, the highest tuition fee for the top group reaches IDR 30 million per semester from the previous IDR 10 million. For the architecture program, the highest tuition fee rate is IDR 14.7 million, up from the previous highest rate of IDR 6.5 million. At USU, the number of new tuition fee rate groups remains the same as before, namely eight tuition fee rate groups. The highest tuition fee rate is in group VIII.

The next example is the University of Indonesia (UI). This year, there has been a change in the number of UKT (Integrated Academic Tuition) tariff groups in UI. In 2023, the number of UKT tariff groups will be 11, while this year it has changed to five groups. The change in the number has an impact on the difference in UKT tariff rates between groups. In last year's UKT tariff determination policy, the highest difference in tariff rates between group one and others was only about IDR 2 million.

This year, the reduction in the number of UKT tariff groups has widened the difference in UKT tariffs. This difference is seen between the UKT II and UKT III cost groups. According to the Permendikbudristek regulations, the UKT II tariff group is set at Rp 1 million. Furthermore, for the UKT III group, the difference jumps far with a range of Rp 7.5 million to Rp 12.5 million.

However, in the highest UKT cost group, the nominal difference is not so clear. Last year, the highest tariff group (XI) ranged from IDR 15 million to IDR 20 million. Meanwhile, this year, the highest UKT tariff group (V) ranges from IDR 14 million to IDR 20 million.

Incompatibility in determining UKT groups

From the two examples of universities, there seems to be a difference in the issues related to changes in the UKT fees. At USU, the increase in UKT fees, especially for the highest group, is a strong issue voiced by students. Meanwhile, at UI, the difference in cost between groups due to the reduction of the number of UKT groups is a concern of its own.

The difference in the impact of changes in the rules regarding the determination of UKT fees depends on each campus's policy in implementing the rules. However, the complaints and concerns of students and prospective students are still the same, namely, what if they cannot afford to pay tuition fees due to higher rates compared to their economic conditions.

Also read: UKT is cheap in France and Germany, expensive in the US and UK

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Hundreds of students from Universitas Jenderal Soedirman (Unsoed) in Purwokerto staged a protest against the hike in single tuition fees at the Unsoed Rectorate building in Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java, on Friday (26/4/2024).

The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Research and Technology stated that the new regulations will only affect the high UKT group (groups 8-12), which has a small proportion. According to data from the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Research and Technology, the proportion of that group is only 3.7 percent this year. The proportion of the middle UKT group (3-7) dominates with a magnitude of 67.1 percent, while the proportion of the low-cost group (1,2, and KIPK) is 29.2 percent. This is in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Research and Technology, which state that the percentage of students charged with UKT fees from groups I and II and recipients of scholarships from economically disadvantaged families must be at least 20 percent of the total number of new students each year.

However, this statement does not reduce the concerns and complaints of students and prospective students. The experience of most students at PTN who complained about expensive UKT rates also sparked increased concerns and complaints. In various netizen conversations on platform

For example, a student should belong to the UKT II group, but the campus determines them in a higher tariff UKT group. Some new prospective students even tell stories of having to withdraw from acceptance to a state university due to fees that are too high and not in line with their family's economic conditions.

This is feared to happen again this year, especially with the policy of increasing the cost of UKT for several majors and UKT groups. The burden of expenses that students have to bear may become heavier and potentially hinder access to succeeding in higher education. Over time, the impact of this condition can slow down the increase in the number of graduates from higher education. Indonesia still ranks low in global education levels.

(Compass R&D)