YOGYAKARTA – The state should guarantee and fund education sector through public policy which is responsive to the interest of the people, not prioritising the market. This is because education is a collective matter that needs collective actions, which cannot be met by individuals. As a collective unit, the state is needed here because the authority it posseses guarantees access distribution to education.
Professor of Social and Policitical Sciences Faculty of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof Dr Mochtar Maso’ed, affirmed this statement in his scientific speech at the ceremony of UGM’s 62nd Anniversary at Grha Sabha Pramana on Monday (19/12). In his speech entitled What is a State for? Year End Reflection on Responsibillity of Making Public Services, Mochtar said that the state should be held responsible in allocating state budget in line with the Constitution, while the business circle and NGOs need bigger commitment to mobilise higher learning education funds collectively.
"Public policy should be oriented to people. Don’t prepare our children for the world only, we have to prepare the world for our children, too. Collective work is required,” he said.
Although the state is still hampered in implementing the Constitutional duties, the State should not leave its responsibility in giving services, particularly for higher learning. Therefore, cooperation between shareholders is much required. This is also true for UGM. “UGM has the interest to pioneer collaborations between educational shareholders for the benefit of the people, especially for those 40% at the bottom line,” Mochtar Masoed said.
Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M.Eng., Ph.D., in his report as university leader between 2007-2011 delivered various innovative achievements in learning, research, community service and management. These include cooperations related to improvement of education quality, source of funds beside from Government, and scholarships to students from underprivileged families.
He said the cross-subsidy for underpriviliged students but with excellent academic achievement has exceeded 20 % of all students. For 2011, there are over 1500 new students who are freed from paying tuitions. “The achievement is made possible by parents of students who have actively supported cross-subsidy financing,” he reported.