Jakarta (ANTARA) - A member of the Indonesian House of\nRepresentatives Commission II, Muhammad Khozin, has urged regional\nadministrations to take action by data-collecting and verifying\nOmbudsman Republic of Indonesia (ORI) findings regarding thousands of\ndiplomas still held in state schools. \u2018Every regional government needs\nto collect data and verify about the diplomas stored in schools. Also\ntake a proactive approach by reaching out to alumni so that diplomas\nstill held by schools can be issued promptly,\u2019 Khozin said in a\nstatement in Jakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
Khozin stressed that public service in the region should guarantee\nthe public\u2019s needs, particularly with regard to the fulfilment of\nadministrative rights such as diplomas that are commonly used as a job\nprerequisite. He noted that the Ombudsman findings of numerous diplomas\nbeing withheld at schools indicate weak public service standards in the\nregional education sector. \u2018Especially in ensuring the administrative\nrights of citizens quickly, transparently, and accountably. Withholding\ndiplomas is, in effect, delaying the future of our young generation,\u2019 he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
As information, the Ombudsman RI Representative for Riau Province\nfound 11,856 diplomas not yet collected by alumni, comprising 5,635 SMA\nNegeri diplomas and 6,221 SMK Negeri diplomas. The finding results from\na supervisory study into the administration of public services related\nto the governance of issuing diplomas in state schools. The study was\nconducted as part of efforts to prevent mala-administration in the\npublic education service sector. The figure is based on data collected\nfrom April to October 2025, with the study focusing on diplomas issued\nbefore the 2024\/2025 academic year.<\/p>\n
Although there are some technical reasons why alumni have not\ncollected their diplomas, the Ombudsman also noted a perception among\nthe public that schools withhold diplomas due to outstanding historical\nfees. Khozin reminded that state schools should not withhold a student\u2019s\ndiploma under existing regulations. \u2018This issue cannot be confined only\nto the schools\u2019 internal policy, because schools are part of the public\nservice system that must adhere to principles of service to the\npublic.\u2019<\/p>\n
Beyond Riau, the phenomenon of withheld SMA\/SMK diplomas has also\nbeen found in Bangka Belitung in recent times. The phenomenon also\noccurs frequently in private schools due to demands for settlement of\noverdue fees. \u2018I believe such problems also occur in various regions,\nnot only in Riau or Bangka Belitung. Graduates urgently need their\ndiplomas to work or continue their studies,\u2019 Khozin said.<\/p>\n
Khozin views the large-scale withholding of diplomas as indicating\nproblems with administrative governance that have not been tackled\nsystematically by regional governments. \u2018When fundamental educational\ndocuments for citizens can be delayed for years, it shows that the\npublic service oversight mechanism is not effectively detecting and\nresolving issues early,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
Khozin also emphasised the importance of clear standard operating\nprocedures for regional educational administrative services. There has\nlong been variation in practices between schools and regional\ngovernments regarding handling students\u2019 academic documents, which\nultimately creates uncertainty in public service. \u2018This condition shows\nthat educational decentralisation has not yet been fully accompanied by\nstrengthened uniform and measurable public service standards,\u2019 he\nstated.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the Commission member responsible for governance urged the\nMinistry of Home Affairs together with regional governments to conduct\nan evaluation. \u2018There are several aspects that require reform,\u2019 Khozin\nsaid. \u2018A comprehensive evaluation of governance of administrative\neducation services must be carried out, including strengthening\nsupervisory systems and more responsive public complaint\nmechanisms.\u2019<\/p>\n
Further, Khozin urged regional governments to promptly take steps to\nresolve the diplomas still held in schools as recommended by the\nOmbudsman, noting that this concerns public service relating to\nfundamental citizen rights. He also argued that public service quality\nshould be measured not only by the success of large-scale regional\nprogrammes, but also by the state\u2019s ability in the regions to ensure\ncitizens\u2019 administrative rights can be accessed without protracted\nbureaucracy. \u2018Resolving the issue of diplomas withheld in state schools\nshould become a momentum for wider reform of the governance of public\neducation services, orientated towards citizens\u2019 rights,\u2019 he\nconcluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dpr-member-urges-state-schools-to-release-withheld-diplomas-1779542154", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }