Viral Lecturer from IAKN Kupang Insults Students During Online Lecture
A lecturer at Institut Agama Kristen Negeri (IAKN) Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), with initials JS, has gone viral for insulting students during an online lecture. The 2-minute 27-second video of the insults has spread widely on social media.
The circulating video shows JS teaching the subject of Strategies for Christian Religious Education. JS is heard calling students’ names one by one to check attendance.
However, when students responded as present, he retorted by calling them stupid humans and animals. JS’s actions have drawn protests from netizens, especially since the video has been circulating since 22 April 2026.
The Rector of IAKN Kupang, I Made Suardana, stated that the lecturer has been deactivated. This decision was taken after an internal examination process involving various institutional elements.
Suardana emphasised that the campus has been working intensively since the case of the lecturer’s insult against students first emerged. These efforts were made to ensure every handling step is carried out objectively, data-based, and in accordance with regulations.
“This quick response is a form of the institution’s responsibility in maintaining academic dignity while addressing the public’s significant attention to the case,” Suardana said via telephone on Monday (27/4/2026).
Since the video went viral on social media, the campus has taken clarification steps. Suardana assigned the Vice Rector of IAKN Kupang to coordinate with the faculty in summoning, examining, and clarifying with the lecturer and the directly affected students in the learning process.
Suardana also ensured the provision of counselling to students through the Mentality Building Task Force of AKN Kupang. “This counselling is given as a form of attention to the psychological condition of students who are acknowledged to be under pressure, fear, and declining confidence in the learning process due to the incident,” he explained.
According to Suardana, the faculty has also issued an official clarification and ensured that the entire handling process is carried out in accordance with institutional procedures to guarantee justice for all parties. The examination results from the faculty team and task force were then submitted to the rector for follow-up. Suardana subsequently disposed the report to the examination team for further investigation.
“This process continues to the institutional Ethics Council to ensure whether the actions taken meet the elements of academic ethics violations,” Suardana clarified.
After lengthy discussions in a leadership meeting involving various elements, including the quality assurance institution and internal supervisory unit, JS was decided to receive an initial sanction in the form of temporary deactivation from all Tri Dharma of Higher Education activities. “This deactivation applies from the issuance of the decision letter until a final decision from the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” Suardana stressed.
Suardana emphasised that the imposition of sanctions on JS cannot be done unilaterally by the institution because the individual holds the status of a civil servant (ASN). The entire process must refer to national regulations, particularly Government Regulation (PP) Number 94 of 2021 on Civil Servant Discipline. Therefore, Suardana stated, IAKN Kupang has coordinated and reported to the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) through the relevant directorate general for the determination of subsequent final sanctions.
During the deactivation period, the lecturer in question is still given limited responsibilities for administrative work within the faculty environment. “The lecturer in question is also required to undergo a coaching process to strengthen professionalism and academic responsibility as a lecturer,” Suardana explained.
Suardana hopes that the firm steps taken can be part of efforts to maintain the quality and integrity of the academic environment. He also invited the public, especially in NTT, to continue giving trust to the institution in creating a safe learning space.
“We impose this sanction to create a safe, comfortable learning space that upholds human values and respect in the education process,” Suardana clarified.