LPDP Explains Reasons for Limiting Mobile Phone Use During Orientation

The Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) has explained the reasons behind the rules limiting the use of gadgets or mobile phones by LPDP scholarship recipients during orientation. Head of the Legal and Communications Division of LPDP, M. Lukmanul Hakim, stated that the rules are intended to maintain order during the orientation. “LPDP has established rules of conduct to maintain focus and the effectiveness of the orientation process,” he said on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.

Lukman conveyed that the restriction rules have considered the participants’ needs to communicate with their families at certain times.

In this year’s implementation of preparations for the departure of scholarship recipients, there is a prohibition on the use of mobile phones. Participants are only allowed to access their phones for one hour per day.

Previously, one participant told Tempo that the rule was presented as part of the quarantine concept during the event, which lasts around six days. “Phones can only be held for one hour a day. Apparently, so that participants stay focused during the activities,” he said on Friday, 1 May 2026. The event is scheduled from 4 to 9 May 2026.

According to him, the restriction is problematic, especially for participants who must continue to communicate with families in areas with time differences. “Friends from eastern Indonesia feel disadvantaged. When they get time to hold their phones, it’s already night there, even their children are already asleep,” he said.

This year’s departure preparation programme differs from previous implementations, which were generally held in hotels. Besides the location in a military complex, participants are also scheduled for intensive activities from 05.00 to 21.00 WIB, including outdoor activities with the TNI.

The communication access restriction was not explained in detail from the beginning. Information regarding the rule was only conveyed close to the implementation, along with details of the location and activity concept. “In the initial invitation, it wasn’t explained. Only later were they informed about the technical details like this,” he said.

Participants admitted to having raised objections to the organisers. However, the committee stated that the policy is a management decision and has undergone adjustments. “Initially, they said phones couldn’t be held at all, then it was negotiated to one hour a day,” he said.