Deputy Minister Stella on LPDP Alumni: Every State Scholarship Is a Debt of Gratitude

Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology Stella Christie has spoken out regarding the viral LPDP alumni controversy, in which a scholarship recipient publicly stated “it’s enough that I’m an Indonesian citizen — my children shouldn’t be,” sparking widespread public debate. Stella addressed the notion that every state scholarship constitutes a debt of gratitude.

“I was once criticised by netizens when I advised undergraduate scholarship recipients studying abroad through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology that a scholarship is a debt. But the reality is indeed so: every scholarship from the state is a debt of gratitude,” Stella said when contacted on Sunday (22/2/2026).

Stella said the recent polemic reflects a moral failure at an early stage. Nevertheless, she noted that tightening the scholarship system through layer upon layer of restrictions would not necessarily resolve the problem.

“The controversy that has emerged recently fundamentally reflects a failure of moral education in the early stages of life. Scholarships are not understood as a sacred trust, but merely as a facility. Therein lies the problem,” Stella explained.

“Excessive restrictions could actually foster cynicism: scholarship recipients become less grateful to the state and busy looking for loopholes to avoid their obligations. What is needed more is trust — giving scholarship recipients the space to find their own way of benefiting the nation,” she continued.

Deputy Minister Stella said that almost all well-known Indonesian diaspora scholars demonstrate strong dedication to contributing to the nation and opening opportunities for others. According to her, gratitude shown to the country takes many forms.

“These positive examples need to be highlighted — Prof. Vivi Kashim in China, Prof. Sastia Putri in Japan, Prof. Haryadi in the United States, and many more. Let us hope we remain open to the fact that giving back to one’s country takes many forms,” she said.

Stella then offered several tips for state scholarship recipients to cultivate a sense of patriotism. One key suggestion, she said, was to focus on being of benefit to individuals in the homeland.

“First, for state scholarship recipients, focus on how you can be of benefit to individuals in Indonesia, rather than to abstract institutions. Focusing on individuals will sharpen your reasoning. Second, for parents, whether living in Indonesia or abroad, use the Indonesian language at home and instil pride in speaking Indonesian in your children,” Stella said.

She also emphasised that the use of the Indonesian language can strengthen patriotic sentiment. Stella said that even in her own multicultural family, the language policy is enforced, including with her husband who hails from Poland.

“The ability to speak Indonesian is never a burden — it can even be a powerful asset! In my family, it is not only my children who are required to speak Indonesian, but my husband, who is from Poland, is also required to be able to speak the language,” she added.

The controversy began when the owner of the Instagram account @sasetyaningtyas uploaded a video of herself opening a parcel she had been eagerly awaiting. Inside was a letter from the United Kingdom Home Office.

The letter confirmed that the account holder’s second child had officially become a British citizen. The woman also displayed the British passport that arrived with the letter.

“This is no ordinary parcel — it contains an extremely important document that changes the fate and future of my children,” she said.

“This is a letter from the UK Home Office stating that my second child has been accepted as a British citizen,” she continued.

She then declared that she would endeavour for her children to hold foreign citizenship.

“I know the world seems unfair, but it’s enough that I’m an Indonesian citizen — my children shouldn’t be. We’ll make sure the children have strong passports as foreign nationals,” she said.

The LPDP scholarship recipient, identified by the initials DS, subsequently issued an apology. The public apology was conveyed through her Instagram account.

The account holder posted a clarification and apology on Friday (20/2/2026). She said the statement was motivated by a sense of disappointment. However, she acknowledged that her actions were misguided and inappropriate.

“I fully realise that the statement was inappropriate and could be interpreted as a form of denigration of one’s identity as an Indonesian citizen. For that reason, I acknowledge my error in the choice of words and in expressing them in the public sphere,” she said.