Teacher Embezzles Student Savings, Ombudsman: West Lombok Education Office Supervision Weak

The Indonesian Ombudsman Representative for West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has assessed the supervision by the West Lombok Education and Culture Office (Disdikbud) over teachers and schools as weak. This assessment follows the case of a teacher with the initials LA at State Primary School (SDN) 5 Babussalam who allegedly embezzled student savings totalling Rp 105 million.

Arya Wiguna, Head of the Report Examination Assistant at the Ombudsman RI NTB Representative Office, questioned the student savings management mechanism implemented at SDN 5 Babussalam. According to Arya, the management of savings funds should involve an official financial institution.

“Managing finances certainly involves a financial institution. In North Lombok, for example, schools are allowed to facilitate saving when they cooperate with a financial institution such as a bank,” Arya said during a visit to SDN 5 Babussalam on Wednesday (24/6/2026).

Arya stated he had requested clarification regarding the alleged embezzlement of student savings at SDN 5 Babussalam. He noted that this case is inseparable from weak supervision of the implementation of programmes in schools. In fact, savings management in other classes was conducted through the school treasurer. Therefore, the school should have been able to detect irregularities earlier.

“That must be controlled; for whatever reason, the policy mechanism issued must be implemented. Even if the policy is cooperation with a bank, but incidents like this occur, where is the problem? It is in the supervision,” Arya explained.

Arya will request clarification from the West Lombok Education and Culture Office. The case at SDN 5 Babussalam, he said, will be an entry point to evaluate the student savings mechanism in all schools across West Lombok.

“This is our entry point to evaluate the savings mechanism in schools. Because a school is a place for teaching and learning. Although it is educational in nature, that is what we will regulate accordingly,” Arya explained.

On the other hand, the Ombudsman will continue to monitor the process of returning the students’ savings. Arya emphasised that further steps will be taken if the teacher in question does not fulfil the commitment to return the money within the specified time.

“The point is that a week is given to resolve this issue of the grade 3 students’ savings, and of course we encourage the commitment so this can be resolved soon. We will continue to monitor. If it is not returned, we will determine the next steps later,” Arya stressed.

Previously, a teacher with the initials LA at SDN 5 Babussalam, Gerung District, West Lombok, was suspected of embezzling student savings amounting to approximately Rp 105 million. The money represents savings belonging to around 30 grade 3 students that have not yet been distributed.

One parent, Rodi, expressed disappointment because his child’s savings had not yet been received. According to him, savings for students from other classes had already been distributed on Friday (19/6/2026).

“Other classes have all received theirs, only grade 3 has not,” Rodi said when met at SDN 5 Babussalam on Tuesday (23/6).

Rodi revealed that his child’s savings amounted to Rp 2.5 million. The money was intended to buy rice and meet the family’s needs. He recounted that the savings were collected little by little over a year from his odd jobs as a grain porter.