Police Arrest 21 Indonesian Students in Jakarta Protest

Hundreds of university students marched through Jakarta on Tuesday, converging on the area surrounding the National Monument to voice their concerns over rising tuition fees and the perceived lack of government support for higher education. The demonstrators, organized by several student unions, carried placards and banners calling for a review of the national education budget and more transparent allocation of funds to public universities.

Police officers were deployed along the route to maintain order, but the protest remained peaceful with no reports of clashes or injuries. Participants expressed frustration with recent policy changes that they say have increased the financial burden on students, and they urged lawmakers to consider additional scholarship programs and fee caps. The demonstration was part of a broader wave of student activism that has been observed across Indonesia in recent months.

The government has yet to issue a formal response to the protest, but officials have indicated that they will review the concerns raised by the student groups. The march underscores growing pressure on Jakarta’s political leaders to address the affordability of higher education and to ensure that public universities receive adequate funding to meet the needs of their student populations.