Social Minister Forms Special Team to Investigate People's School Procurement Issues

Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf, known as Gus Ipul, has formed a special team to delve into various procurement issues for goods and services within the Ministry of Social Affairs. The team is requested to report its findings within the next week. “Earlier, we formed a special team to investigate the procurement issues that we know have been reported in various news outlets and on social media. I have appointed the Deputy Minister and the Inspector General to conduct the investigation, deepen the inquiry, and report it next week,” said Gus Ipul when met at his office in Jakarta on Thursday, 7 May 2026. The formation of the team is intended to provide the ministry with a more comprehensive picture of the various procurement issues circulating in the public domain. He noted that information on social media is not always entirely accurate. “So that we can get a clearer and more complete picture of the issues that have been circulating on social media,” he stated. He emphasised that the issues being investigated include the procurement of shoes and uniforms for students in the People’s School programme. In addition to students, some uniform procurements are also intended for teaching staff. “At the same time, to obtain a complete picture of the procurement of goods and services issues, particularly the procurement of shoes for People’s School students,” he said. Nevertheless, he claimed that all procurement processes are conducted through transparent tender mechanisms in accordance with procedures. However, he acknowledged that there are several matters that still require further explanation to the public. “But everything is done through a transparent process via the appropriate tender mechanism,” he said. Previously, Gus Ipul stated that his planned visit to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday has been postponed to Friday, 8 May 2026, at 10:00 WIB. During that visit, he will be accompanied by the Deputy Social Minister and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs. He said the meeting aims to seek advice and input while providing explanations to the KPK regarding the procurement processes within the ministry. “We will pay a courtesy visit to the KPK to seek advice, input, and at the same time, we will provide information about the procurement processes within the Ministry of Social Affairs,” he said. The procurement of shoes and socks for the People’s School programme has drawn scrutiny. The budget has come under spotlight due to allegations that the price of People’s School shoes is Rp 700,000 per pair. The Corruption Eradication Commission has also commented on suspicions of price markups in the shoe procurement for that programme. The KPK reminded that the goods and services procurement sector is an area prone to corruption. “Strengthening corruption prevention is also a crucial focal point considering that the procurement sector still has a relatively high vulnerability level,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters on Monday, 4 May 2026. Based on data from the general procurement plan on INAPROC, the total value of student school shoe procurement is Rp 27,541,500,000, using the e-purchasing method. There are two types of shoe procurements with the same total value as above but different package names. Each package name is student equipment school shoes and PDH (daily uniform) student equipment shoes. Additionally, there is procurement of sports shoes for students worth a total of Rp 19,672,500,000. There is also procurement of sports shoes for teachers worth a total of Rp 3,979,000. Furthermore, teacher service shoes worth Rp 5,570,600,000.