Mataram Mayor Responds to Alleged Use of Officials' Names in Student Admissions

Mataram Mayor Mohan Roliskana has addressed the issue of individuals allegedly using the names of local officials to secure places for students in the city’s New Student Admission System (SPMB). Many parents of prospective students have reportedly been dropping the names of regional officials to ensure their children gain admission to favoured schools.

“Once again, I urge everyone not to force or pressure [the system] to get into specific targeted schools,” Mohan said in Mataram on Monday (29/6/2026). Responding to the widespread practice of individuals invoking officials’ names to smooth the admission process, Mohan stressed that such actions are unnecessary, as official channels are available for parents to utilise according to the regulations.

Mohan explained that the zoning, achievement, transfer, and affirmation pathways provide equal opportunities for all students. “There is a recruitment process, an achievement pathway, zoning, and affirmation [and transfer]. These can all be utilised,” he asserted. He urged parents to follow all stages established by the government so that the SPMB process can proceed in an orderly, objective, and transparent manner.

Meanwhile, several parents of prospective students have complained that many individuals are claiming to be relatives of officials, which they say disrupts the order of the SPMB. “During the achievement registration last week, many people claimed to be the family of this official or that official,” one parent told detikBali on Monday. Another parent, Rosa, echoed this sentiment, stating that some parents stubbornly presented recommendations from government officials to help their children pass the achievement pathway. “Yes, there are those who claim to have recommendations from this official or that official,” she said.

For context, the SPMB for primary schools in Mataram is divided into three pathways: the zoning pathway accounts for 50-80 percent of admissions, the affirmation pathway for 15-20 percent, and the transfer pathway for 5 percent. Registration for the affirmation and transfer pathways will take place from 22-24 June, while the zoning pathway registration runs from 29 June to 1 July 2026. For junior secondary schools, the SPMB is divided into four pathways: zoning (50 percent), achievement (25 percent), transfer (5 percent), and affirmation (20 percent). The achievement pathway is further broken down into academic report-based achievement (12 percent), non-academic achievement (8 percent), and religious achievement (5 percent).