Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education Responds to PIP Fund Disbursement Obstacles in Ngada Child Suicide Case

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Suharti, has responded to the matter concerning the parent of YBR, a primary school student who died by suicide in Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, where the mother was reportedly unable to withdraw funds from the Programme Indonesia Pintar (PIP).

According to Suharti, the obstacle arose because the children, including the deceased, were registered on the grandmother’s family card (KK) rather than the mother’s. “The case of the child in Ngada is quite complex and this child, along with their siblings, received PIP. Because they are listed on their grandmother’s family card, the one entitled to withdraw would be the grandmother, not the mother,” she stated during a Policy Dialogue at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education with the Press in Tangerang on Sunday (1/3).

“When the mother wanted to withdraw the PIP, it was not permitted because the family card did not match the child’s registration. So a statement letter from the village is needed confirming the mother’s guardianship of the child. The mother also had not yet submitted proof that she is the child’s parent,” Suharti continued.

Furthermore, she confirmed that the PIP funds have already been transferred to the account of the children in question. Currently, the matter requiring resolution is purely administrative.

“So the money has been transferred to the child’s account. The siblings have already had their funds withdrawn by the grandmother,” she concluded.

The Chairperson of the Indonesian Regional Representative Council, Sultan Baktiar Najamudin, expressed deep condolences over the death of the primary school student in Ngada, East Nusa Tenggara. Prior to the tragic incident, the child had frequently asked their mother to withdraw the PIP funds to meet school needs.

The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, expressed profound condolences over the passing of the student. The presence of a psychological team from the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police represented a swift and measured response to ensure the bereaved family received adequate psychological support.

The State Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson, Prasetyo Hadi, expressed deep concern over the incident.