Gov’t to Expand Scholarship Reach, Enhance National Higher Education

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi delivers a press statement following President Prabowo’s briefing to university rectors and professors in Jakarta, Thursday (01/15).

The Government is set to expand scholarship reach, improve education in science and technology, and meet the countrywide need for healthcare workers, Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi has said.

“The President ordered us, especially the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, and me as the Minister of State Secretary, to recalculate and reformulate [policies] to significantly increase the number of scholarship awardees,” he said following President Prabowo’s briefing to university rectors and professors across Indonesia at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Thursday (01/15).

According to the Minister, the President ordered it upon a report during the meeting, which stated that the number of students enrolled in higher education in Indonesia reached approximately 9.9 million, yet the number of scholarship awardees was relatively limited at 1.1 million.

Furthermore, President Prabowo underscored the importance of enhancing education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). He instructed his cabinet to prioritize the allocation of the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) scholarship for STEM fields, aiming to boost Indonesia’s capacity in science and technology.

“He expressed hope that [awardees in STEM] make up over 80 percent since we are focusing on catching up on what we have missed in science and technological advancements,” Prasetyo said, adding that the President also stressed the lack of healthcare workers, particularly medical doctors and specialists.

“Several policies for medical schools have been implemented. Student admissions at both undergraduate and specialist levels will be increased. Secondly, whether we like it or not, it seems that we must get ready to establish new general medicine faculties,” he said, adding that the locations and total number of these faculties are under assessment.

“We have not decided yet on the locations. We are currently identifying them and how many we would need,” he said.

On that occasion, President Prabowo also highlighted the need to improve education in dentistry, pharmacy, and medical technology to keep pace with technological advances in medical equipment. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (DH/AW)