MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The North Sumatra Provincial Government and the North Sumatra Provincial Prosecutor's Office (Kejaksaan Tinggi Sumatera Utara) are strengthening assistance for schools to prevent irregularities in the use of budget funds and protect the delivery of education from various forms of external interference. The strengthened support was formalized through the signing of a joint agreement involving the North Sumatra Provincial Government, district and municipal governments, the North Sumatra Provincial Prosecutor's Office, as well as district and municipal prosecutor's offices across North Sumatra.
The agreement is part of efforts to provide greater security for school principals, teachers, officials responsible for managing funds, and budget managers in carrying out their duties, particularly in the administration of education funds. The assistance is also expected to help schools manage their budgets in a more orderly and transparent manner and in accordance with applicable regulations.
The program was launched by the North Sumatra Provincial Prosecutor's Office under the Jaksa Sahabat Pendidik initiative. The program provides consultation and assistance to school principals and officials responsible for managing and using budget funds in carrying out educational activities, particularly in the area of budget administration.
North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution made the statement on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, during an information session on the Jaksa Sahabat Pendidik program organized by the North Sumatra Provincial Prosecutor's Office at the Raja Inal Siregar Hall at the North Sumatra Governor's Office on Jalan Diponegoro No. 30, Medan.
According to Bobby, stronger assistance is necessary because the North Sumatra Provincial Prosecutor's Office receives numerous complaints related to the management of school budgets. In addition to administrative issues and the use of budget funds, schools also face interference from external parties that could obstruct school principals and teachers in carrying out their duties.
"This is an extraordinary initiative. It provides a sense of security, allows school principals and teachers to work more calmly, and prevents irregularities in school budgets. We want the quality and management of our education system to continue improving," Bobby said.
Assistance to Prevent Irregularities
Bobby emphasized that school principals and officials responsible for budget funds face significant challenges in organizing educational activities. In addition to being responsible for the educational process, they must ensure that financial management complies with applicable regulations.
In his view, certain organizations or irresponsible individuals may continue to pressure or threaten schools by referring to the management of budget funds. Such actions could disrupt schools' focus on their primary educational responsibilities.
Bobby explained that such interference could occur at various levels of government and within society. He therefore called on all stakeholders to strengthen cooperation so that school principals and teachers would not have to face such pressures alone.
"Even if a governor is intimidated, it affects the provincial, national and international levels. In the case of a district head, there is also the district level where intimidation takes place. At the subdistrict level, there are other levels, while schools also face actors at the village level and even at the neighborhood-unit level. We hope we can address this together," Bobby said.
The cooperation between regional governments and law enforcement agencies, Bobby continued, should not only take effect after a problem has already emerged. Assistance must instead be provided from the outset so that schools better understand their responsibilities, procedures for managing budgets, and the necessary steps when dealing with legal issues.
Through this approach, schools can focus more strongly on teaching and various programs aimed at improving education quality. At the same time, officials responsible for financial management can gain a better understanding of the legal aspects of decisions concerning the use of education funds.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDES SECURITY: North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution emphasizes the need for legal assistance to provide security for school principals and teachers while preventing irregularities in education budgets. (PHOTO: Alexander AP Siahaan)
Prosecutor's Office Promotes Better Education Management
Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Prosecutor's Office Muhibuddin said education has a much broader function than simply transferring knowledge. In his view, education also plays an important role in character building so that students can develop better values and behavior.
Therefore, Muhibuddin emphasized that the Jaksa Sahabat Pendidik program is not focused solely on budget management. The program is also part of efforts to improve education management as a whole.
"A friend points out when another friend makes a mistake and supports them when they do the right thing. This is our effort to improve the organization of our education system so that it can continue to develop," Muhibuddin said.
The concept views assistance as a preventive measure. Schools should not only receive attention after an alleged violation occurs. Instead, they should be given opportunities to seek advice at an early stage so that potential problems can be identified and resolved in a timely manner.
The approach is also intended to improve the understanding of education officials regarding the proper use of budget funds in accordance with regulations. The better the administration functions, the more effectively potential irregularities can be contained and education programs implemented.
Strengthening administrative structures is also important because education budgets are directly connected to numerous school needs. From teaching activities and the provision of facilities and infrastructure to programs aimed at improving education quality, all areas require careful and accountable financial management.
BETTER EDUCATION MANAGEMENT: Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Prosecutor's Office Muhibuddin explains that the Jaksa Sahabat Pendidik program aims to improve education management through assistance and oversight. (PHOTO: Alexander AP Siahaan)
Prosecutor's Office Launches Complaint Hotline
In addition to signing the joint agreement, the North Sumatra Provincial Prosecutor's Office has established a complaint hotline. The service is intended to provide members of the public and education personnel with a channel to report potential violations of the law.
Through the service, citizens, teachers and school principals can report various actions suspected of violating the law. These include abuse of authority, bribery, illegal fee collection and alleged corruption.
The hotline therefore provides a communication channel for schools and the public when they encounter problems in the education sector. The complaint mechanism is also expected to help law enforcement authorities obtain information about potential violations in the education environment.
The Jaksa Sahabat Pendidik program therefore does not rely solely on law enforcement, but also strengthens prevention and assistance. Regional governments and the North Sumatra Provincial Prosecutor's Office are encouraging schools to manage their budget funds carefully, transparently and responsibly.
Mayors and district heads from across North Sumatra, heads of district and municipal prosecutor's offices, as well as heads of education agencies at the provincial, district and municipal levels attended the information session. School principals and teachers followed the event both in person and online.
In addition, relevant organizational units of the North Sumatra Provincial Government and district and municipal governments participated in the event. The involvement of various institutions demonstrates that better education management requires coordination across agencies, from regional governments and law enforcement authorities to individual educational institutions.
Through this cooperation, the North Sumatra Provincial Government and the North Sumatra Provincial Prosecutor's Office hope that school principals and teachers can carry out their duties with greater confidence, while the management of education budgets becomes more orderly and protected from irregularities. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala