Legal Expert: The Right to Education for Inmates Must Be Accompanied by Strict Supervision

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The right of inmates to pursue higher education, including master’s programs, remains guaranteed while serving their sentences in correctional institutions.

However, a legal expert from the University of Sebelas Maret, Andina Elok Puri Maharani, emphasized that the provision of education for inmates must be carried out with strict supervision to prevent special treatment.

This right applies to all inmates, including former Head of the National Police’s Internal Affairs Division, Ferdy Sambo, who is currently an inmate in a premeditated murder case and is reportedly continuing his master’s program at Cibinong Class IIA Prison, West Java.

“The regulation stipulates that all inmates have the right to education. Therefore, inmates remain entitled to pursue education, including higher education, while serving their sentences, as long as it is carried out in accordance with legal procedures and does not disrupt security,” said Andina on Sunday (17/5/2026).

She explained that being an inmate does not eliminate a person’s right to obtain education.

“All inmates have the same rights, including in the field of education. Normatively, the status of an inmate does not eliminate the right to education; in this case, it is conducted entirely online,” she said.

Andina added that access to education for inmates is part of the process of rehabilitation and social reintegration within the correctional system.

According to her, the state’s duty is not only to punish but also to prepare inmates to be able to return to society with improved quality.

“From a correctional perspective, education is an important part of the rehabilitation and social reintegration process. The state is not only obliged to punish but also to prepare inmates so that they can return to society with better capacity,” she said.

She stated that the main principle in granting rights to inmates is non-discrimination and adherence to the law.

“The principle of granting rights to inmates is non-discrimination and adherence to the law. Although inmates are given access to education, it must still be done with supervision,” said Andina.

According to her, one form of supervision is accompaniment by prison officers when inmates attend online lectures to prevent misuse of communication facilities.