Appreciating Government Efforts to Maintain Stability and Quality of Education Amidst Efficiency
By: Zara Quinn
The government continues to demonstrate a high commitment to maintaining the stability and quality of national education amidst budget efficiency efforts that are currently being implemented. This policy is strategically formulated so as not to sacrifice the education sector, in line with Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1 of 2025 concerning spending efficiency in the implementation of the APBN and APBD.
With a mature approach, the government ensures that education remains a top priority, while budget efficiency is implemented selectively and in a targeted manner to optimize state financial management.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) continues to prioritize education programs that have a direct impact on the community. Social assistance through the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) for elementary, junior high, senior high, and vocational high schools remains available to support access to education for students from underprivileged families.
In addition, allowances for non-ASN teachers, both in public and private schools, are maintained in the State Budget (APBN) for Fiscal Year (TA) 2025.
The government also guarantees that salaries and allowances for employees within the Ministry of Education and Culture will continue to be fully met. In addition, the Teacher Professional Education (PPG) program will continue to run according to schedule to ensure an increase in the quality of educators in Indonesia.
The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, stated that the budget adjustment from IDR 33.5 trillion to IDR 26.27 trillion was carried out with full calculation so as not to disrupt the implementation of education programs.
The budget efficiency policy implemented continues to consider the continuity of education programs and the welfare of educators throughout Indonesia. Services in the main units and Technical Implementation Units (UPT) in the regions continue to run normally without disruption.
The main focus in budget allocation is directed at strengthening vocational education to produce graduates who are better prepared to enter the workforce, protection and development of regional languages, school accreditation to maintain the quality of education, and the implementation of the Academic Ability Test (TKA) which will take place in November 2025.
In addition, the government also continues to ensure that school development and revitalization remain a priority. The transfer of the budget resulting from efficiency is still awaiting the completion of the Presidential Instruction to ensure that its use is carried out optimally and on target. This step shows the government’s commitment to maintaining the sustainability of national education without having to sacrifice its quality.
Chairperson of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Hetifah Sjaifudian, expressed her appreciation for the strategic steps taken by the Ministry of Education and Culture in maintaining the sustainability of priority education programs.
According to her, the government has ensured that spending for State Civil Apparatus (ASN) remains safe, social assistance such as PIP has not been cut, and various contracts and ongoing goods purchases can continue.
She also emphasized that the priority programs that have been designed by the government continue to receive adequate budget allocations to ensure the sustainability of national education.
Support for this efficiency policy also came from Prabowo Subianto’s Spokesperson, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak. According to him, budget efficiency in the education sector is carried out selectively so as not to disrupt the main aspects that contribute to improving the quality of national education.
He assessed that there were a number of parties who misunderstood the efficiency policy, which caused concern in the community. Efficiency is only applied to budget allocations that are not on target and do not have a direct impact on public services or human resource development. The government only restructures budgets that are less relevant to the main goal of improving the quality of education.
Furthermore, Dahnil emphasized the importance of consistency in following the president’s direction regarding this efficiency policy. The government has ensured that budget restructuring will not have a negative impact on education or the welfare of educators. The principles of equality and sustainability remain the main basis for every decision taken, so that the stability of national education can be maintained and run optimally.
The efficiency steps implemented in this fiscal reform deserve high appreciation. By maintaining the quality of education while optimizing budget management, the government has shown its seriousness in ensuring that every policy taken does not have a negative impact on society.
