"The government ensures that educational services such as, for example, the operations of universities, scholarships, and the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP), will not be affected," he stated on Friday.
Nasbi highlighted four key sectors untouched by the efficiency measures outlined in Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025 concerning the Efficiency of the State Budget and Regional Budget, which exclude employee salaries, employee priorities, public services, and social assistance.
Nasbi emphasized that education falls under public services, ensuring its budget is unaffected.
Moreover, in the President's program, education is a component of the Fast Best Results Program (PHTC). Thus, he added that the budget aimed at enhancing the quality of education will not be disrupted.
On the other hand, he noted that efficiency measures would apply to ceremonial activities, the procurement of office stationery, budgets for forum group discussions (FGD), and monitoring and evaluation activities.
Related news: Budget efficiency to not affect education programs: minister
On February 12, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro indicated a potential reduction in the scholarship budget.
This includes various scholarships such as the Indonesia Smart Card Scholarship (KIP-K), the Indonesian Education Scholarship (BPI), the Higher Education Affirmation Scholarship (Adik), the Developing Country Cooperation Scholarship (KNB), and scholarships for lecturers and education personnel.
"The initial budget ceiling for the KIP scholarship is Rp14.6 trillion (US$865 million), (but) then it got cut by the Directorate General of Budget of the Finance Ministry by nine percent," he noted during a Working Meeting with Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives.
Hence, his side suggested that the scholarship budget should not be affected by efficiency.
Earlier, the budget efficiency mandated in the Presidential Instruction is said to be allocated to fund more critical programs for the community, such as the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), food and energy self-sufficiency, and health sector improvements.
Related news: Budget cuts: Ministry redirects research focus on priority issues
Translator: Livia Kristianti/Mentari Dwi, Resinta S
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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