When a Former Subordinate Defends Nadiem in the Chromebook Trial...
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - A former subordinate of Nadiem Makarim at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Mendikbudristek) testified in court, lightening the charges against his former boss in the corruption case.
The trial on allegations of corruption in the procurement of Chromebooks, which implicates former Mendikbudristek Nadiem Makarim at the Central Jakarta District Court, on Tuesday (14/4/2026) heard testimony regarding the planning, implementation, and evaluation processes of the educational digitalisation programme.
Iwan Syahril, former Director General of Early Childhood Education, Basic, and Secondary Education at Mendikbudristek, explained in his testimony that the development of the education platform was carried out through intensive discussions between policymakers and the technical team.
He stated that the final decisions remained at the directorate level according to authority.
“The platform was developed through very intensive discussions between policy and the applications to be provided,” said Iwan.
First, the teacher learning platform that provides modules, self-training, and collaboration spaces, which has given rise to more than 145 learning communities.
Second, the Education Report that presents national assessment results in a simple format so that they can be used by schools and local governments as evaluation material.
Third, the data-based planning and budgeting platform used to compile education programmes, including the utilisation of School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds.
“Planning and policy implementation become more directed because they are data-based,” he said.
In the trial, Iwan also explained that the Chromebook was designed to be usable in 3T areas (disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost), including regions with limited internet network access.
According to him, the device can still be used even if the internet connection is unstable, even on 2G or 3G networks.
He claimed to have directly reviewed the implementation in several regions such as East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Papua.
“Chromebooks can be used without internet, for example for assessments and learning,” he said.