Why Indonesia's Middle-Class Students Struggle to Find Scholarships

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Raisiya Rahma, 20, emphasized the importance of private companies providing more scholarships for college students from the middle-class. "In Indonesia, it is quite challenging for middle-class students to find scholarships. Usually, scholarship providers look for students who have outstanding achievements or come from underprivileged families. Our position is quite tricky," said Raisiya, who admitted to being from the middle-class, on July 22, 2026.Raisiya, a recipient of the Lotte Shin Kyuk-ho Global Scholarship by Lotte Scholarship Foundation, majoring in Public Health at the University of Indonesia, mentioned that the scholarship specifically targets middle-class students. However, currently, the number of similar scholarships is not abundant.Raisiya mentioned that opportunities for students from middle-class families often do not qualify for social assistance but also do not have sufficient economic means to finance their studies independently.Raisiya hopes for more scholarship programs that provide opportunities for students from middle-class families. "I hope the scholarships will continue to exist and reach more students like me, who have achievements but come from middle-class families," she said.Raisiya stated that this is the first scholarship she has successfully obtained since starting college. Previously, she had attempted to apply for scholarships several times but was not successful. When she found out about the Lotte Scholarship, she decided to apply because the administrative process was relatively simple. "I thought there was no harm in trying. The documents were easy, no need for essays, and the amount was quite substantial. When I applied, I didn't expect much," she said.Unexpectedly, she was selected as one of the scholarship recipients. Out of the University of Indonesia, only five students were accepted into the program. "I am very grateful and very excited. Moreover, I also like K-pop and Korean dramas, so I am very happy to receive a scholarship from a Korean company," she said.According to Raisiya, organizational experience and community service are additional values in the scholarship selection process. During college, she was actively involved in teaching children at Pasar Minggu, participating in grant programs, and accompanying the elderly in nursing homes. She included these experiences in her curriculum vitae when applying.For Raisiya, this scholarship not only helps to pay the semester tuition fee (UKT), which amounts to Rp10 million, but also serves as recognition for the efforts she has made. "It's not just about the amount. For me, this proves that I can develop this far," she said.Raisiya Rahma, majoring in Public Health at the University of Indonesia/Tempo-Mitra TariganThirasilani Mettiko, a fourth-semester Pharmacy student at the Atma Jaya Catholic University of Jakarta, also became one of the recipients of the Lotte Shin Kyuk-ho Global Scholarship. The scholarship served as motivation for her to continue developing her capacity so that she can contribute to society in the future. Thira learned about the scholarship program through the university's faculty and administrative staff. She had intended to apply since last year but was late because the registration period had closed."This year, I finally managed to apply through the merit-based track. The requirements were not too difficult, just attaching award certificates, a recommendation from the program chair, and the Academic Achievement Card showing the Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)," said Thira, whose nickname is Thirasilani, to Tempo.During the selection process, Thira relied on her achievements, namely being the national champion in a Paritta recitation competition, a religious Buddhist scripture, when she was already a college student.For Thira, succeeding in obtaining the scholarship brought impacts beyond just financial assistance. The scholarship motivated her to maintain academic achievements because she realized that being a recipient of the program was not easy. "As a result, I became more enthusiastic about studying. I know that getting the scholarship is difficult, so I don't want to waste it," she said.The educational assistance also eased the burden on her parents, who are entrepreneurs in the home catering business. Moreover, her younger sibling is also pursuing education in higher education. Thira mentioned that the tuition fee for the Pharmacy Study Program at Atma Jaya University amounts to around Rp12 million per semester.She, a fourth-semester student, aspires to become a pharmacist in the pharmaceutical industry and work in laboratory research. According to her, investing in education is an investment for the nation's future because current students will be the generation continuing Indonesia's development. 'We are the generation that continues the nation. If we are helped, we will be able to make a greater contribution in the future,' said Thira.She hopes that more private companies will follow Lotte's footsteps in providing educational assistance to students. She mentioned that the opportunity to obtain scholarships is still limited, whereas many students need support to be able to complete their education and develop their potential.Lotte Group, through Lotte Foundation, once again held the Lotte Shin Kyuk-ho Global Scholarship. The hope is that this scholarship supports the development of human resources through education. This program aims to provide opportunities for young Indonesian generations to develop their academic potential and achieve a better future.Thirasilani Mettiko, majoring in Pharmacy at Atma Jaya Catholic University of Jakarta/ThiraThis program is intended for undergraduate (S-1) and diploma IV (D-4) students who have academic achievements and need financial support to continue their education. Each scholarship recipient will receive educational assistance of USD450 per semester or the equivalent of USD900 per year, which is expected to help alleviate education costs and support them to continue achieving.In the 17th year of its implementation in Indonesia, 50 students were selected as scholarship recipients, with each of them coming from 10 partner universities, with a quota of five students per university. The ten partner universities include the University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, Sebelas Maret University, Brawijaya University, Prasetiya Mulya University, Atma Jaya Jakarta University, As-Syafi'iyah Islamic University, Nasional University, Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University, and NHI Bandung Tourism Polytechnic.Haesun Chang, Chairwoman of the Lotte Shin Kyuk-ho Global Scholarship, stated that her team believes that sustainable future begins with investing in education. 'We want to bring opportunities for young generations to develop their potential, broaden their horizons, and prepare themselves to become leaders with integrity and concern for society. We hope that these values will continue to be carried in every step and contribution they make in the future,' she said.In line with this, the President Director of PT Lotte Mart Indonesia, Song Yanghyun, expressed pride in being able to continuously support the scholarship program. 'We hope that this scholarship can be a motivation for students to keep learning, develop their potential, and later make a real contribution to society and Indonesia,' he said.Song Yanghyun hopes that scholarship recipients will not only achieve academic excellence but also grow to become future leaders with integrity, social concern, and the ability to contribute to Indonesia's progress.Read: Jakarta Expands KJMU Scholarships to Master's, PhD LevelsClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News