{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1595635,
        "msgid": "nadiem-says-he-never-directed-chromebook-usage-googles-funding-described-as-csr-programme-1772895424",
        "date": "2026-03-07 21:21:49",
        "title": "Nadiem says he never directed Chromebook usage; Google's funding described as CSR programme",
        "author": "",
        "source": "VIVA",
        "tags": "berita",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "At a resumed hearing into alleged Chromebook procurement corruption, witnesses testified there was no instruction from former minister Nadiem Makarim to mandate Chromebooks, and that Google's funding was described as part of a CSR programme. Nadiem said his involvement was limited to a single meeting on 6 May 2020, with the technical team responsible for the procurement composition; he also urged consideration of Windows laptops if Chromebooks were scarce. The trial highlights tensions over the project's technical options and funding sources.",
        "content": "<p>Jakarta \u2014 The continued trial of the alleged corruption in the\nprocurement of Chromebook laptops for the Ministry of Education,\nCulture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) has revealed\nwitness statements regarding the process of procuring information and\ncommunications technology (ICT) devices.<\/p>\n<p>In the hearing held on Thursday, 5 March 2026, several witnesses\nstated that there was no directive from former Minister of Education,\nCulture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim to mandate the use of\nChromebooks in the procurement programme. In addition, Google\u2019s funding\nscheme was described as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility\n(CSR) programme.<\/p>\n<p>Former Special Assistant to the Minister for Strategic Issues, Fiona\nHandayani, in her testimony, said that before Nadiem took office, there\nwas no discussion in the core team WhatsApp group about ICT procurement\nor Chromebooks.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018There was absolutely no discussion about ICT procurement or\nChromebooks in the WA Group Core Team before Nadiem became Minister,\u2019\nFiona said, quoted on Saturday, 7 March 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Similar testimony was given by Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam, a former\nindependent consultant at the Directorate General of Higher Education.\nHe explained that in the early stage, the technical team only explored\nvarious hardware options for school needs.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I was asked to conduct exploration related to hardware for schools.\nMy presentation title was \u2019tech hardware for schools\u2019, not \u2018Chromebook\nfor schools\u2019. In the early pages the focus was on Linux-based laptops,\u2019\nhe said.<\/p>\n<p>He also noted that in the discussion of an executive summary on\ndevice options, Nadiem questioned why there was a mix of Windows-based\ndevices and Chromebooks in the proposal.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Yes, Mr Minister asked why there is a mix of Windows and\nChromebooks. Why not all Windows?\u2019 Ibrahim said.<\/p>\n<p>In his testimony, Nadiem said his involvement in Chromebook\ndiscussions occurred in a single meeting on 6 May 2020. In that meeting,\nthey discussed options for device allocation, including the possibility\nof a mix of 14 Chromebooks and one Windows laptop for each school.<\/p>\n<p>According to him, the technical decisions regarding the composition\nof the procurement were made by the technical teams at the directorate\nand director-general levels. He also admitted that he reminded the\ndepartment of the need to consider Windows laptops if Chromebooks were\nlimited on the market.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nadiem-says-he-never-directed-chromebook-usage-googles-funding-described-as-csr-programme-1772895424",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}