Jakarta (ANTARA) - State Universities (PTN) must be wise in determining the Single Tuition Fee (UKT) rate for students in study program, Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry's Higher Education, Research, and Technology Acting Director General, Nizam, stated.

“Higher education must be inclusive and accessible to all levels of society. For this reason, be careful in setting the UKT rates. Do not increase it. Rather than increasing the amount, PTN can add more UKT tariff groups," he noted in a statement from his office on Monday.

Nizam emphasized that the costs borne by students should be adjusted to align with their economic capabilities, their parents, or other parties paying for them.

In addition, the ministry's Acting Secretary of Directorate General, Tjitjik Srie Tjahjandarie, stated that the UKT determination for each study program in each PTN should be based on the Single Tuition Tariff (BKT).

Meanwhile, the determination of BKT for each study program in diploma and undergraduate programs must be based on the Higher Education Operational Cost Unit Standards (SSBOPT), she remarked.

She explained that SSBOPT is a mandate of Law Number 12 of 2012 concerning Higher Education, stating that the government must determine SSBOPT periodically.

The government's determination of SSBOPT should take into account the achievement of National Higher Education Standards, type of study program, and regional cost index, Tjahjandarie remarked.

The SSBOPT is the basis for allocating the state budget for State Universities and determining BKT for each study program in diploma and undergraduate programs, she stated.

Hence, the ministry is issuing the SSBOPT regulation in the Regulation Number 2 of 2024 concerning Unit Standards for Higher Education Operational Costs at State Universities within the Ministry of Education and Culture.

"We also issued the Minister of Education and Culture Decree Number 54/P/2024 concerning the Standard Unit Size of Higher Education Operational Costs," she remarked.

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Translator: Astrid Faidlatul H, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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