Prabowo Wants Free Public Education from Elementary to High School, Mendikdasmen: It's Already Free

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti stated that all public schools, from kindergarten, elementary, junior high, senior high to vocational high schools, are already free of charge.

Mu'ti made this remark in response to President Prabowo Subianto’s desire for free public education.

“Kindergarten, elementary, junior high, senior high, and vocational public schools are all already free,” Mu'ti told Kompas.com on Sunday (9/20/2026).

“As for universities, it’s better to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Science,” he added.

However, when asked whether this means there are no longer any tuition fees in public schools, Mu'ti did not give a definitive answer.

He only pointed out that every school receives operational assistance funds (BOS) from the government.

“All schools receive BOS funds, and underprivileged students receive the Indonesia Smart Program (PIP),” he added.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto stated that the government must provide free education at public elementary, junior high, senior high schools, and universities.

Prabowo said he would soon hold a limited meeting to ensure public education is accessible free of charge.

“I fully agree. I will immediately hold a meeting because public education costs must be free! Public education costs — elementary, junior high, senior high, public universities — must be free!” Prabowo declared during a speech at the 28th anniversary of the National Mandate Party at JCC, Jakarta, on Friday (9/18/2026).

Prabowo’s passionate statement was met with enthusiastic cheers from PAN cadres present at the event.

He mentioned that the funds for free education could come from money that has been stolen through corruption. “Some may ask, where will the money come from? The money comes from what has been stolen, from corruption, from what has been embezzled,” he said.