Chromebook Corruption Trial: Witness Reveals Mechanism for Developing Education Platform

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The trial for the alleged corruption in the procurement of Chromebooks, which implicates former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim, revealed the process of developing digital education platforms at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (14/4/2026).

In the hearing, Iwan Syahril, former Director General of Early Childhood, Primary, and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, explained that several educational platforms were developed through intensive discussions between policymakers and technical teams.

He stated that he was involved as part of the Steering Committee in his official capacity.

“Those platforms were developed through very intensive discussions between the policies to be implemented and the applications to be provided,” said Iwan Syahril at the hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (14/4/2026).

The final decision still rests with the director or director general according to their authority.

“The relevant staff involved to assist in developing the applications because ultimately it is the decision of the relevant directorate,” he clarified.

The witness outlined that the ministry developed three main platforms.

First, a teacher learning platform that provides modules, self-paced training, and collaboration spaces among teachers. From this platform, more than 145 learning communities were formed.

“Where teachers share the innovations they have done and then they also collaborate to form learning communities,” he explained.

“So there are two platforms: for local governments and schools. The national assessment results were made very simple to be understood so as to become material for reflection for improving school conditions or improving local government conditions,” he said.

“Planning and implementation of education policies become far more directed because they are data-based,” said the witness.