Data Check: How Much of the Education Budget Was Transferred to the Regions?

In the third 2019 presidential debate, the running mate of the number 02 candidate pair, Sandiaga Uno, stated that despite the more than Rp 400 trillion education budget, of which 60% was allocated to local governments, quality education has not been achieved. In fact, many instruments could be used to monitor the quality of education through existing indices and the effectiveness of the allocated budget.

Based on the 2018 State Budget (APBN), the education budget transferred to regional governments, through both General Allocation Funds (DAU) and Special Allocation Funds (DAK), reached Rp 279.5 trillion, or 62.9% of the total Rp 444.2 trillion. Meanwhile, Rp 149.7 trillion (33.7%) was allocated through central government spending, and the remaining Rp 15 trillion (3.38%) through financing.

In the 2019 APBN, the government allocated Rp 492.5 trillion for education, representing 20% of the total state expenditure of Rp 2.461 trillion. Of this amount, Rp 308.4 trillion (62.6%) was transferred to regional governments, Rp 163.1 trillion (33.1%) was allocated through central government spending, and Rp 21 trillion (4.3%) through financing.