Illegal Levies: The Most Common Type of Education Fund Misuse in Indonesia in 2025

According to the monitoring results of the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), in 2025 alone, there were at least 218 alleged cases of education fund misappropriation in Indonesia.

Of this total, illegal levies (pungli) were the most frequent, accounting for 47%.

"Direct extortion from students and parents. This is the most visible and most common form of corruption occurring in schools," JPPI explained in its report.

The percentage of alleged education fund misappropriation cases by type in 2025 can be seen as follows:

• Illegal levies: 47%
• Misappropriation of education assistance funds: 24%
• Corruption in education procurement and projects: 17%
• Abuse of power and authority: 11%
• Administrative and fictitious corruption practices: 1%

JPPI explained that the misappropriation of education assistance funds refers to cases where state funds intended for students are leaked or misused.

The funds in question can come from School Operational Assistance (BOS), the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP), grants, and even Special Allocation Funds (DAK).

Meanwhile, in cases of education procurement and projects, according to JPPI, the impact typically includes damaged buildings, fictitious facilities, and poor educational quality.

As for the abuse of power and authority, examples include embezzlement, bribery, extortion, and problematic budget management.

Regarding administrative and fictitious corruption practices, JPPI added, these include fictitious accountability reports (SPJ), maladministration, and report manipulation.

"Corruption that is 'neat on paper' but systemically harms the system," JPPI explained.