August 15, 2025 | 05:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, JAKARTA - Indonesian Association for Education and Teachers (P2G) views the government’s plan to distribute thousands of flat-screen or smart TVs to disadvantaged schools as highly prone to corruption.
P2G Head of Advocacy Iman Zanatul Haeri said the government must learn from past cases of facility procurement that ended in graft.
"We must not have a repeat of the Chromebook issue," Iman told reporters on Friday, August 15, 2025. The Chromebook procurement under the Ministry of Education’s digitalization program is currently under investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
President Prabowo Subianto announced the smart TV program during his state address at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Friday.
He said the government will distribute 288,000 smart TVs to schools to give students in all regions access to quality lessons from competent teachers through virtual means, addressing the shortage of skilled educators in some areas.
Iman believes this approach is misguided. He pointed out that many areas still lack adequate electricity and internet access, and that all students have the right to direct, in-person teaching from qualified educators. "Not through smart TVs showing recordings of competent teachers," he said.
He added that similar virtual learning during the Covid-19 pandemic left students unfocused, easily bored, and struggling to understand lessons. "Even if the teacher is competent, virtual learning lacks the human touch. Education is ultimately about the relationship between teachers and students," Iman said.
According to him, the government should prioritize improving teacher competence and welfare, and ensure the safe, fair distribution of teachers to remote areas.
"This should be the focus, rather than distributing smart TVs that will not truly benefit students," he said.
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