Public Education from Elementary School to University Must be Free: Prabowo

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed his commitment to expanding access to education for all children in the country. He made the statement while attending the peak commemoration of the 28th anniversary of the National Mandate Party (PAN) in Jakarta on Friday, September 18, 2026.

In his remarks, Prabowo said he would soon hold a limited cabinet meeting to discuss efforts to provide free education at public educational institutions. He said Indonesian children should have wide access to education, from elementary school through public universities.

"I strongly agree. I will soon hold a limited meeting, or in essence, education at public institutions should be free. Education at public elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, and public universities should be free," the president said, as quoted from the Indonesian Presidential Secretariat.

Echoing the statement, General Chairperson of PAN, Zulkifli Hasan, said education is key to preparing young people to become future leaders. Young Indonesians, he said, need to receive an education that helps develop outstanding, intelligent, innovative, creative, and independent individuals.

"A generation that loves its nation and country, a generation with strong personal integrity—they are the owners of the future," he said.

Zulhas further stressed that quality education should be widely accessible to all Indonesians. He said education is both a constitutional right of every citizen and a foundation for preparing young people to take a role in facing global challenges.

"Quality education must not become a luxury. It must not belong only to those born in big cities or those from well-off families. There must be no discrimination in education. Education is a right to advance the intellectual life of the nation," he said.

"That is why we support People's School (Sekolah Rakyat) and Garuda School – Transformation (Sekolah Garuda Transformasi). We want Indonesian young people not merely to be spectators of changes in the world; they must be the ones driving those changes: young, empowered, and transforming Indonesia,” he added, referring to programs establishing schools for children from low-income families and prospective talent in science and technology.

PAN is a centrist, nationalist-religious political party in Indonesia. Established in 1998 by figures of an Indonesian Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, it declares itself as an open party. The party won 7.23 percent of the vote in the 2024 election and is currently one of the parties in Prabowo's governing coalition.