LPDP to Sanction 44 Scholarship Awardees Over Alleged Service Violations

February 24, 2026 | 11:32 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education Agency (LPDP) reports that it has conducted research on 600 scholarship recipients. Out of this number, 44 scholarship awardees are suspected of not fulfilling their service obligations after completing their studies.

According to regulations, scholarship awardees are obliged to dedicate their contributions to Indonesia for 2 periods of study + 1 year.

LPDP President Director Sudarto stated that the institution is currently processing the sanctions against dozens of LPDP awardees. "Of those, sanctions have been determined, including the return of eight, and the remaining 36 are being processed," Sudarto said during the APBN KiTa press conference broadcast live on the Ministry of Finance's YouTube channel on Monday, February 23, 2026.

Sudarto explained that the data was accessed from immigration crossing data from the Directorate General of Immigration, public reports, as well as social media searches. From LPDP's findings, not all reports automatically lead to violations.

Some scholarship recipients are still in the internship period or establishing businesses abroad for two years, in line with the program’s regulations. Additionally, some have also completed their service period or have received official assignments from their respective institutions.

"We will process every case objectively and proportionally. We remain committed to upholding public trust, given that these are public funds that must be returned and maximized for Indonesia’s benefit," Sudarto stated.

Furthermore, he conveyed that awardees who violate the obligations could be subject to the return of their scholarship funds and interest, as well as being barred from participating in future LPDP programs. These provisions are already included in the agreement signed by scholarship recipients.

LPDP scholarships have come under scrutiny after an LPDP alumnus named Dwi Sasetyaningtyas went viral on social media for flaunting her kid's British passport. She expressed her joy and mentioned her desire for her children to become foreign citizens by having British passports.

LPDP later mentioned Tyas' husband, AP, who is also an LPDP alumnus, has not fulfilled his service obligations after completing his studies. Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa now says that AP has agreed to return the education funds he received as an LPDP awardee, along with interest. The minister stopped short of detailing the exact figure, but said it's estimated to reach billions of rupiah.

Ilona Estherina contributed to the writing of this article

Read: State Scholarships Are a Debt of Gratitude, Says Deputy Minister

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