Imam Hamdi, Jakarta – The Jakarta Students Federation (Fijar) in Tuesday's demonstration in front of the Education and Culture Ministry headquarters demanded free education be prioritized over commercialized-education.

"Education is neither for commercialization nor it is a business. We demand free education," said one of the protestors in his oration in front of the Ministry HQ on November 17.

Two high school students from a West Jakarta school said the government should have freed the costs for education in either state-run or private schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also demanded the government to better facilitate people with an adequate education.

The demonstrations by roughly 500 Fijar members were done alongside members from labor unions which also coincide with International Students Day. Students pushed for the government to stay true to what the country had promised regarding education.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1406302/student-protest-demands-free-education-amid-pandemi