JPPI Urges Education Ministry to Evaluate BOS Fund Reporting After BPK Findings
A total of 326 school principals in South Sulawesi are reportedly planning to resign following a Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) finding regarding alleged mismanagement of School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds. National Coordinator of the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), Ubaid Matraji, has urged the Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) to evaluate the BOS fund reporting system.
“JPPI is urging Kemendikdasmen to completely evaluate the BOS fund reporting system, which has proven ineffective at preventing budget leakages in the field,” Ubaid told reporters on Monday (15/6/2026). He described the resignation of 326 school principals as a massive figure, arguing that it proves the mismanagement or even misappropriation of BOS funds in South Sulawesi is systemic, massive, and structured.
According to him, school principals are often made ‘scapegoats’ by unscrupulous education department officials through various levies or contributions, forcing principals to manipulate accountability reports. “This must be uncovered to its roots,” he continued. He also demanded that these findings be investigated to the full extent of the law. “JPPI is not only asking for this BPK finding to be investigated, but it must be pursued as a criminal case by law enforcement if elements of personal or corporate enrichment are found,” Ubaid stated. “Do not let this case be settled under the table or merely through administrative sanctions of ‘returning the money’. BOS funds are the right of schoolchildren to obtain proper facilities. Misappropriating BOS funds is tantamount to robbing the future of the nation’s generation,” he added.
Coordinator of the Teachers’ Association and Education (P2G), Satriwan Salim, asked BPK to explain the details related to the alleged mismanagement findings. He said it is necessary to examine whether there was malicious intent behind the alleged errors. He added that if BPK found evidence of marked-up goods or false reports, it must be investigated by law enforcement. “This clearly contains an element of intentional abuse of authority by school principals in managing BOS funds, so there is a criminal element. This must also be proven by law enforcement,” said Satriwan.
The plan for 326 school principals to resign emerged during a hearing (RDP) at the South Sulawesi Regional House of Representatives (DPRD). According to Antara news agency on Saturday (13/6/2026), the hearing revealed that the alleged resignation order targeted senior high school (SMA) and vocational high school (SMK) principals. In the first phase, 128 principals were asked to resign, followed by 198 in the second phase, bringing the total to 326. The policy was allegedly triggered by the BPK finding on suspected mismanagement of BOS funds at several state senior high schools in South Sulawesi. The total number of SMA and SMK schools across South Sulawesi is recorded at 1,532.
Regarding the matter, BPK had actually recommended that the findings be resolved through a mechanism of returning the losses. This recommendation has been followed up and settled by the principals concerned. Commission E of the South Sulawesi DPRD urged the Education Department to resolve the controversy over the planned resignations, following issues of alleged forced resignation orders ahead of the 2026/2027 new student intake. “We advise and recommend that the signing of resignation statement letters by school principals be halted. We ask the Head of the Education Department to discuss this matter properly, so as not to cause ripples or negative issues regarding the alleged coercion of principals to resign,” said Commission E Chair Andi Tenri Indah. Andi Tenri assessed that since the finding had been acknowledged by the Education Department Head, the BPK finding issue should be considered resolved. “The finding has been returned by the school principals, and this has even been acknowledged by the Head of the Education Department. So, we consider the matter closed, and there is no need for further resignation statement letters to be made by principals,” Andi said.