LPDP Alumna Proud Her Child Became Foreign Citizen: Deputy Minister Stella Responds
Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology (Wamendiktisaintek) Stella Christie has responded to remarks by an alumna of the LPDP (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) scholarship programme who declared “it’s enough that I’m an Indonesian citizen, my children shouldn’t be” — a statement that recently went viral on social media.
Stella stated that every scholarship originating from the state constitutes a moral debt.
“I was once criticised by netizens when I advised recipients of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s undergraduate overseas scholarships that a scholarship is a debt. But the reality is precisely that: every scholarship from the state is a moral debt,” said Stella, as quoted on Sunday (22 February).
Stella described the recent controversy as evidence of a failure in moral education during the early stages of life.
She said the issue relates to scholarship recipients’ understanding — that they should view the scholarship as a trust, not merely a facility.
Nevertheless, Stella noted that the matter cannot simply be resolved by tightening the scholarship system through layer upon layer of restrictions.
“Excessive restrictions could actually foster cynicism: scholarship recipients become less grateful to the state and become preoccupied with finding loopholes to avoid their obligations,” she said.
What is needed instead, she argued, is trust — giving scholarship recipients the space to find their own ways of contributing to the nation.
Stella cited several Indonesian diaspora scientists known for demonstrating strong dedication to contributing to their country and creating opportunities for fellow Indonesians.
“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 the nation takes many forms,” she said.
The controversy began when a video uploaded by Instagram account @sasetyaningtyas went viral on social media. She posted a video of herself opening a long-awaited parcel containing a letter from the United Kingdom’s Home Office confirming that her second child had officially become a British citizen.
The woman also showed the British passport that arrived alongside the letter.
“I know the world seems unfair, but it’s enough that I’m the Indonesian citizen — my children shouldn’t be. Let’s ensure the children get strong passports as foreign nationals,” she said in the video.
Following the backlash, the LPDP scholarship recipient, identified by the initials DS, issued an apology.
She uploaded a clarification and apology on Friday (20 February), acknowledging that her statement was wrong 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, I acknowledge my error in the choice of words and in expressing them in a public space,” she said.