Indonesia KIP Kuliah program faces scrutiny over data accuracy

The Indonesian Audit Board (BPK) has identified irregularities in the Kartu Indonesia Pintar (KIP) Kuliah scholarship program, discovering that Rp2.7 billion was distributed to 320 students who had already passed away. In response, Amich Alhumami of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) emphasized the urgent need for rigorous data verification to ensure aid reaches eligible students.

Under the program, scholarship funds are divided into two categories: educational costs, which are paid directly to universities, and living allowances, which are transferred directly to the students' personal bank accounts. Living allowances, ranging from Rp800,000 to Rp1.4 million per month depending on the region, are intended for student needs such as food, transport, and housing. These funds must not be diverted by universities or parents.

Universities are responsible for updating student data every semester to reflect active status. Officials have called for the BPK to investigate the specific distribution mechanisms to determine why funds were allocated to ineligible recipients and to ensure that data collection and disbursement processes are properly synchronized.