Jakarta, Oct. 7 -- The Indonesian government plans to make public schooling free and phase in tuition-free state universities, widening children's path to the future while shifting education costs from families to the state and testing government finances.

President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the government to prepare free public education, spanning kindergarten and primary school through secondary education, along with a phased rollout of tuition-free programs at state universities.

Prabowo first proposed the plan on September 18, 2026, at the National Mandate Party (PAN) anniversary celebration. Ministers have since begun discussing at the Presidential Palace how to put it into practice.

Education costs have long burdened househ...