The Indonesian Ombudsman Representative for West Nusa Tenggara (NTB)\nhas assessed the supervision by the West Lombok Education and Culture\nOffice (Disdikbud) over teachers and schools as weak. This assessment\nfollows the case of a teacher with the initials LA at State Primary\nSchool (SDN) 5 Babussalam who allegedly embezzled student savings\ntotalling Rp 105 million.<\/p>\n
Arya Wiguna, Head of the Report Examination Assistant at the\nOmbudsman RI NTB Representative Office, questioned the student savings\nmanagement mechanism implemented at SDN 5 Babussalam. According to Arya,\nthe management of savings funds should involve an official financial\ninstitution.<\/p>\n
\u201cManaging finances certainly involves a financial institution. In\nNorth Lombok, for example, schools are allowed to facilitate saving when\nthey cooperate with a financial institution such as a bank,\u201d Arya said\nduring a visit to SDN 5 Babussalam on Wednesday (24\/6\/2026).<\/p>\n
Arya stated he had requested clarification regarding the alleged\nembezzlement of student savings at SDN 5 Babussalam. He noted that this\ncase is inseparable from weak supervision of the implementation of\nprogrammes in schools. In fact, savings management in other classes was\nconducted through the school treasurer. Therefore, the school should\nhave been able to detect irregularities earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat must be controlled; for whatever reason, the policy mechanism\nissued must be implemented. Even if the policy is cooperation with a\nbank, but incidents like this occur, where is the problem? It is in the\nsupervision,\u201d Arya explained.<\/p>\n
Arya will request clarification from the West Lombok Education and\nCulture Office. The case at SDN 5 Babussalam, he said, will be an entry\npoint to evaluate the student savings mechanism in all schools across\nWest Lombok.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is our entry point to evaluate the savings mechanism in\nschools. Because a school is a place for teaching and learning. Although\nit is educational in nature, that is what we will regulate accordingly,\u201d\nArya explained.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the Ombudsman will continue to monitor the process\nof returning the students\u2019 savings. Arya emphasised that further steps\nwill be taken if the teacher in question does not fulfil the commitment\nto return the money within the specified time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe point is that a week is given to resolve this issue of the grade\n3 students\u2019 savings, and of course we encourage the commitment so this\ncan be resolved soon. We will continue to monitor. If it is not\nreturned, we will determine the next steps later,\u201d Arya stressed.<\/p>\n
Previously, a teacher with the initials LA at SDN 5 Babussalam,\nGerung District, West Lombok, was suspected of embezzling student\nsavings amounting to approximately Rp 105 million. The money represents\nsavings belonging to around 30 grade 3 students that have not yet been\ndistributed.<\/p>\n
One parent, Rodi, expressed disappointment because his child\u2019s\nsavings had not yet been received. According to him, savings for\nstudents from other classes had already been distributed on Friday\n(19\/6\/2026).<\/p>\n
\u201cOther classes have all received theirs, only grade 3 has not,\u201d Rodi\nsaid when met at SDN 5 Babussalam on Tuesday (23\/6).<\/p>\n
Rodi revealed that his child\u2019s savings amounted to Rp 2.5 million.\nThe money was intended to buy rice and meet the family\u2019s needs. He\nrecounted that the savings were collected little by little over a year\nfrom his odd jobs as a grain porter.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/teacher-embezzles-student-savings-ombudsman-west-lombok-education-office-supervision-weak-1782319927", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }