LPDP

As a citizen and a member of the academic community, I feel compelled to express my concern regarding the recent controversy involving a recipient of a scholarship from the Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP).

LPDP is not merely a scholarship. It is a mandate of the state. It is funded by public money. It was designed to develop outstanding human capital who will return, contribute, and strengthen Indonesia.

When a scholarship recipient openly expresses pride in changing their child’s citizenship to that of another country, it is understandable that the public reacts. This is not merely a matter of personal choice—because personal decisions remain the right of every individual. However, when someone receives state-funded education, there is an ethical dimension, a moral responsibility, and a level of public sensitivity that cannot be ignored.

We must distinguish between personal rights and national commitment. We must distinguish between individual freedom and a moral contract with the nation.

LPDP was established in the spirit of long-term investment for Indonesia. It is therefore reasonable for society to expect alignment between the values, attitudes, and commitments of scholarship recipients and their homeland.

This statement is not intended to judge any individual, but to remind us all that a state-funded scholarship is not merely an educational facility. It is a form of trust.

And trust always demands responsibility.

May this controversy serve as a collective reflection—for scholarship recipients, program administrators, and for us as citizens—so that integrity, commitment, and public ethics remain the primary foundations of every policy and its implementation.

Indonesia needs the best talents.
But more than that, Indonesia needs the strongest character.

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