Jakarta. The Indonesian Student Executive Alliance (BEM SI) will hold a protest outside the House of Representatives (DPR) and People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) complex in Jakarta on Monday, demanding reforms to the national education system, including free education and changes to the country’s education law.

The students are calling on the government and parliament to revise the National Education System Law through a comprehensive and participatory process involving the public and education stakeholders.

BEM SI is also demanding free education, better welfare for teachers and other education workers, and guarantees for the sustainability of private universities amid calls for free higher education.

Authorities are set to deploy 3,983 personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI), police, local government, and internal security units to secure the area around the parliament complex, Central Jakarta Police spokesperson Comr. Akhmadi said.

“The joint security force from the TNI, police, local government and internal security officers totals 3,983 personnel,” Akhmadi said.

Police have also prepared traffic diversions around the complex, with arrangements to be adjusted depending on the number of protesters and conditions on the ground.

Akhmadi urged motorists traveling around the parliament complex, particularly along Jalan Gatot Subroto, to use alternative routes to avoid congestion during the protest.

“We urge everyone who will be traveling through the area to be careful and find alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion while the protest is taking place,” he said.

The protest focuses on access to and the quality of education, with BEM SI also calling for education policies to be formulated with greater participation from the public and relevant stakeholders.

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