MPs Propose LPDP Scholarship Recipients Be Assigned to 3T Regions
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — Commission XI of the House of Representatives has proposed that recipients of the Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP) scholarships be required to serve in remote, border, and outermost (3T) regions. This is seen as a way to promote equitable distribution of human resources, especially in healthcare and education outside Java.
PKB faction member of Commission XI, Anna Mu’awanah, stated that the human resource imbalance between Java and other islands remains a serious issue. She noted that building facilities like hospitals is relatively easy, but providing doctors is challenging.
“Hospitals are easy to build, but doctors are very hard to come by,” Anna said during a hearing on the Ministry of Finance’s Public Service Agency performance report for 2025 on Monday, 26 May 2026.
Anna cited that many civil servants, including doctors and teachers, request transfers despite having committed to serve at least 10 years in their initial posting areas. She said this hinders achieving balanced Human Development Index (HDI), especially outside Java. Therefore, the LPDP scheme should not only focus on producing skilled human resources but also support equitable distribution of professionals in 3T regions.
“Our HDI is a key factor for development, for example, doctors. Also, graduates should be contracted to serve in 3T areas and monitored, evaluated,” she added.
In response, Acting LPDP Director General Yon Arsal explained that LPDP does not just focus on sending scholarship recipients for education, but also ensures their fields of study align with government strategic needs.
“We are not just sending people to study, but selecting fields desired by the government, with graduates working in strategic sectors,” Yon said.
He added that LPDP also aims to channel alumni to sectors needing experts in their fields. This is done through co-funding partnerships with domestic and international universities.
“Thus, scholarship awardees are directly placed in jobs matching their expertise, strengthening domestic industries,” he said.