"The education budget directly benefiting lecturers, teachers, and educational staff is Rp274.7 trillion," she stated at a Working Meeting with the House of Representatives' Budget Committee (Banggar) in Jakarta on Thursday.
At the 2026 RAPBN and Financial Note Press Conference on August 15, the minister conveyed the education budget for teachers, lecturers, and educational staff was Rp178.7 trillion.
The difference lies in the distribution of the teacher professional allowance (TPG) for regional civil state apparatus (ASN), from Rp68.7 trillion (US$4 billion) to Rp69 trillion (US$4.1 billion).
Furthermore, significant changes were seen in the civil servant (PNS) TPG, the PNS lecturer professional allowance (TPD), and the salaries of educators, increasing from Rp82.9 trillion (US$4.8 billion) to Rp120.3 trillion (US$7.1 billion).
Meanwhile, the non-PNS TPG and non-PNS TPD remained unchanged at Rp19.2 trillion (US$1.1 billion) and Rp3.2 trillion (US$190 million), respectively.
When contacted on Thursday, the ministry's Director General of Budgeting, Luky Alfirman, explained that the change was due to elements not included in the 2026 State Budget Bill Press Conference and Financial Note.
"The previous calculation did not include all components of personnel spending for salaries and allowances for teachers, lecturers, and education personnel in all regions," he remarked.
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that the education budget would remain at 20 percent of the State Budget. In the 2026 State Budget Bill, this figure reached Rp757.8 trillion (US$45 billion).
This budget is divided into various sectors, namely regional transfers (TKD) amounting to Rp253.4 trillion (US$15 billion) for public and private teacher allowances, School Operational Assistance (BOS), Early Childhood Education Operational Assistance (BOP PAUD), Equivalency BOP, and additional teacher income.
Along with budget distribution to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen), the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek), the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Public Works, and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The next distribution was the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which received Rp223.6 trillion (US$13 billion) from the education budget. MBG distribution through the education expenditure post was directed at 71.9 million students and Islamic boarding school students throughout Indonesia.
Followed by education spending for financing amounted to Rp37 trillion (US$2.2 billion) for various programs, such as scholarships from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) for 4,000 students, 452 research projects, and 21 existing state universities with legal entities (PTN BH) and 2 new state universities with legal entities (PTN BH).
The funding expenditure was also used to support education at nine leading schools and the revitalization of 11,686 schools.
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Translator: Imamatul Silfia, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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