KPK finds academic cheating services in 91% of Indonesian campuses

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed widespread academic dishonesty in Indonesia, with a 2026 Integrity Assessment Survey (SPI) finding that thesis-writing services, or ‘joki skripsi’, are present in 91% of surveyed educational institutions. According to Dian Novianthi, Acting Deputy for Education at the KPK, approximately 43% of respondents reported students paying others to complete final assignments or theses.

These services are often advertised openly on social media, with fees ranging from Rp3 million to Rp10 million per thesis. Common motivations for using these services include heavy workloads, time management struggles, or difficulty mastering research methods.

Muhammad Budi Djatmiko, Chairman of the Indonesian Private Higher Education Association (APTISI), warned that such academic fraud serves as a precursor to more serious corruption. He described the phenomenon through the ‘Slippery Slope Effect’, suggesting that small acts of cheating and dishonesty in university can evolve into corrupt behaviors once individuals enter public office.