"The goal is to optimize quality and equal education,"
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is currently restructuring the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) to support the government's programs and ensure their success.

"We are restructuring LPDP and ensuring that it supports the government's programs initiated by President Prabowo Subianto," Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro, said during a working meeting with Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Wednesday.

The programs include the realization of food self-sufficiency, energy self-sufficiency, water availability, downstreaming, eight percent economic development, and 2029 development goals, he informed.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Stella Christie, informed that her party is looking into the use of LPDP funds based on data and has conducted a cost-benefit analysis.

"We need to review LPDP fund allocation to see the fund absorption utilization," she said.

According to Christie, the principles of optimization are fairness and quality. Those two factors will be considered in the LPDP review.

"We will issue our findings and recommendations to optimizing LPDP funds," she said.

However, the authority over LPDP funds rests with the Ministry of Finance, she informed. Thus, her party cannot issue policies related to LPDP fund optimization.

Still, her party is ready to collaborate with the Finance Ministry to optimize LPDP funds.

"The goal is to optimize quality and equal education," she said.

Meanwhile, Brodjonegoro emphasized that LPDP beneficiaries from the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) must return to Indonesia after finishing their studies abroad to serve the nation and share their knowledge for national progress.

Meanwhile, LPDP beneficiaries who are not ASN or with government agencies have flexibility regarding the deadline for their return to Indonesia, he noted.

Brodjonegoro said he understands that domestic conditions are not yet optimal for providing them an opportunity to work and serve based on their respective expertise.

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Translator: Tri Meilani A, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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