Oplus_131072
BATU BARA, bhayaksa.net—- Commercialization practices within educational institutions in Batu Bara Regency, North Sumatra Province, have come under intense scrutiny from law enforcement agencies and public oversight bodies. The General Chairman of the Law Journalists Forum against Corruption (FORWAKUM TIPIKOR), Aris Hasibuan, officially released a public statement on Friday, September 25, 2026. His organization explicitly urged the Chief of the Batu Bara District Prosecutor’s Office (Kajari) to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into highly suspected illegal levies under the guise of student workbook (LKS) sales and mandatory school attributes imposed on parents.
This decisive action follows a wave of grievances and formal complaints filed by distressed parents throughout September 2026, who reported feeling financially extorted by arbitrary school policies. Corrupt school administrators are allegedly operating a structured scheme that forces students to purchase commercial workbooks, sports attire, and student council organization (OSIS) badges. These actions are widely believed to be deliberately organized to generate illicit financial gain for personal enrichment, directly undermining the fundamental principle of fair accessibility in basic education.
From a legal standpoint, school principals and complicit teachers who commercialize public education assets are deemed to have violated national statutory regulations. The mandatory procurement of commercial workbooks and bundled uniform accessories violates Article 181 of Government Regulation (PP) Number 17 of 2010 concerning the Management and Operation of Education, which explicitly prohibits educators and school committees from selling textbooks or uniforms. Furthermore, if elements of coercion for financial self-enrichment are proven, this systemic abuse of power can be prosecuted as a criminal act of corruption under Article 12 letter e of Law Number 20 of 2001 (Anti-Corruption Law), which establishes severe penalties for extortion committed by civil servants (ASN).
As of this reporting, FORWAKUM TIPIKOR is finalizing formal grievance dockets and gathering material evidence to be officially submitted to both the District Prosecutor’s Office and the Batu Bara Regency Inspectorate in North Sumatra Province. The general public, particularly parents, demand that the local Department of Education and law enforcement authorities immediately impose strict administrative and criminal sanctions to permanently stop rogue officials from turning public schools into illegal commercial enterprises.
Reporter: Haposan Sinabutar
Editor: bhayaksa.net Team
