PIP Fund Scandal At SMAN 7 Cirebon: School Admits Cuts Of IDR 250,000 Per Student For The Party

CIREBON The polemic at SMAN 7 Cirebon City is heating up after hundreds of students are threatened with failing to enter state universities through the National Selection line Based on Achievements (SNBP). In the midst of this problem, the school acknowledged a cut in the Indonesia Smart Program (PIP) of IDR 250,000 per student.

More surprising, the funds that should have been used to help students from underprivileged families were allegedly channeled to one of the political parties.

The Cirebon City SMAN 7 confirmed that there were pieces of PIP funds that were channeled to certain parties, but were reluctant to reveal the names of the parties receiving the funds.

"The Rp 250,000 cut for the party is true, but we don't know which party. We are afraid to say something wrong," said Deputy Principal of SMAN 7 Cirebon City, Law Ahmad Hidayat, Tuesday, February 18.

The law also confirmed that the Prosecutor's Office was still conducting an investigation regarding the alleged flow of PIP funds to political parties.

"Currently, the Prosecutor's Office is still gathering evidence and investigating this case. There has been no official decision yet," he added.

Regarding the return of PIP funds to students, the Law states that the process will be carried out in stages.

"In the past there was a plan to separate students who were canceled, and the money was returned. If the money was taken from PIP, it would also be returned later. But if it is related to this case, there is no certainty," he said.

The alleged cut in funds was first disclosed by Hanifah Kaliyah Arij, a grade 12 student at SMAN 7 Cirebon City. He printed a savings book and found a suspicious transaction that showed a withdrawal of PIP funds from the school's personal account.

"The evidence we hold is in the savings book. The PIP fund of Rp. 1.8 million is withdrawn to the school's personal account," he said.

Hanifah also explained that she and her friends initially did not know that PIP was intended for underprivileged students. They were only told there were donations to the school without further explanation.

"We think this is just a donation for students. We were not told these funds should be for those who are underprivileged," he explained.