Nadiem Makarim Accused of Forming “Mas Menteri Core” WhatsApp Group to Discuss Chromebook Procurement Before Taking Office
In fact, there were no discussions about Chromebooks in the WhatsApp group until six months after Nadiem took office
In fact, there were no discussions about Chromebooks in the WhatsApp group until six months after Nadiem took office
The WhatsApp group was established as a space for education policy discussions between Nadiem Makarim and his team, not as a platform for making procurement decisions.
28 August 2019 (Pre-Inauguration)
The group was first created under the name “Edu Org Team.” Its purpose was to serve as a space for exchanging ideas and preparing education policy strategies in the event that Nadiem would later be appointed Minister. The early conversations in the group contained ideas about the direction of education reform.
Topics discussed in the group prior to the inauguration on 20 October 2019 included:
Using PISA as a more objective international standard to measure the quality of education in Indonesia
Reviewing the school zoning policy to encourage more equitable access and school quality
Shifting the assessment paradigm from the National Examination toward more formative assessments
Simplifying teachers’ administrative workload so they can focus on teaching and learning
29 October 2019 (Post-Inauguration)
Six days after the cabinet inauguration, the group was renamed “Mas Menteri Core Team.” Discussions then evolved to cover early issues in policy implementation. At this stage, there were still no discussions regarding Chromebooks or the selection of laptop operating systems.
Discussions related to Chromebooks only emerged around May 2020, approximately five months after Nadiem officially took office. These discussions took place within the context of policy review by the technical team.
Allegation
Allegations have emerged claiming that, before being appointed as Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nadiem Makarim was already involved in discussions about Chromebook procurement through a WhatsApp group.
This narrative is then used to argue that the procurement had been planned prior to his appointment and is portrayed as an early indication of malicious intent behind the Chromebook policy.
Fact
The WhatsApp group “Edu Org Team” was created before Nadiem Makarim’s official appointment as a forum to discuss ideas and early education policy concepts, and it did not discuss Chromebooks at all until several months after the inauguration.
The group was renamed “Mas Menteri Core Team” one week after the inauguration.
Allegation
Allegations have emerged claiming that, before being appointed as Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nadiem Makarim was already involved in discussions about Chromebook procurement through a WhatsApp group.
This narrative is then used to argue that the procurement had been planned prior to his appointment and is portrayed as an early indication of malicious intent behind the Chromebook policy.
Fact
The WhatsApp group “Edu Org Team” was created before Nadiem Makarim’s official appointment as a forum to discuss ideas and early education policy concepts, and it did not discuss Chromebooks at all until several months after the inauguration.
The group was renamed “Mas Menteri Core Team” one week after the inauguration.
The WhatsApp group was established as a space for education policy discussions between Nadiem Makarim and his team, not as a platform for making procurement decisions.
28 August 2019 (Pre-Inauguration)
The group was first created under the name “Edu Org Team.” Its purpose was to serve as a space for exchanging ideas and preparing education policy strategies in the event that Nadiem would later be appointed Minister. The early conversations in the group contained ideas about the direction of education reform.
Topics discussed in the group prior to the inauguration on 20 October 2019 included:
Using PISA as a more objective international standard to measure the quality of education in Indonesia
Reviewing the school zoning policy to encourage more equitable access and school quality
Shifting the assessment paradigm from the National Examination toward more formative assessments
Simplifying teachers’ administrative workload so they can focus on teaching and learning
29 October 2019 (Post-Inauguration)
Six days after the cabinet inauguration, the group was renamed “Mas Menteri Core Team.” Discussions then evolved to cover early issues in policy implementation. At this stage, there were still no discussions regarding Chromebooks or the selection of laptop operating systems.
Discussions related to Chromebooks only emerged around May 2020, approximately five months after Nadiem officially took office. These discussions took place within the context of policy review by the technical team.
This website is continuously updated to provide accurate, verifiable, factual and contextual information as the legal process in the Nadiem Makarim Chromebook case develops
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This website is continuously updated to provide accurate, verifiable, factual and contextual information as the legal process in the Nadiem Makarim Chromebook case develops
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