Corruption is 'rampant' in schools: ICW<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The way school textbooks are procured leaves the door open to
\ncorruption in elementary and junior high schools, involving not
\nonly principals but also teachers and school committees, a survey
\nrevealed.<\/p>\n
The latest study conducted by the Indonesian Corruption Watch
\n(ICW) in Jakarta, Garut and Surakarta discovered that corruption
\nin book procurement often takes place ahead of a semester, when a
\nschool selects books for its students.<\/p>\n
\"Usually book publishers go to schools and persuade the
\nprincipal to choose their books by offering a large discount,\"
\nICW head researcher Ade Irawan said, while unveiling the result
\nof the study titled \"High cost for low-quality education\" here on
\nThursday at a discussion in which the survey results were
\npresented.<\/p>\n
The practice occurs since a principal has the authority to
\ndetermine which books are compulsory for students in line with
\nschool autonomy, the report says.<\/p>\n
\"Publishers can offer discounts of up to 40 percent,\" Ade
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Before the era of school autonomy, publishers approached
\nofficials at local education agencies to recommend preferred
\nbooks for schools in the region.<\/p>\n
Apart from book procurement, the survey, conducted on 1,000
\nrespondents who were mostly parents in the three cities, found 12
\nother extra fees collected by schools without clear objectives
\nand accountability.<\/p>\n
Among the fees deem unnecessary by most parents is money
\ncollected in the event of principal replacement, sports fees,
\ngraduation ceremony fees and school maintenance fees.<\/p>\n
\"Based on our research, parents in Jakarta pay Rp 137,579
\n(US$15.28) each semester in such fees, while parents in Surakarta
\npay Rp 174,827,\" Ade said.<\/p>\n
The decision to collect such fees rests with the principal and
\nteachers, according to the study. Most parents say they were
\nneither informed by the school about the purpose of the fees nor
\ngiven access to reports on the use of the money.<\/p>\n
Ade said low salaries of teachers were responsible for the
\nrampant corruption in schools.<\/p>\n
Director General of Elementary and Intermediate Education
\nIndra Djati Sidi, who was present at the discussion, claimed that
\nsince institutions of learning had become autonomous corruption
\nat schools was not as prevalent as in the past.<\/p>\n
\"Now that schools are free to choose their own textbooks, the
\nscale of corruption has decreased. It is still there, but it's
\nless, so I guess it's an improvement,\" Indra said.<\/p>\n
The law on national education, which was enacted last year,
\nsays every citizen, starting at the age of six, is entitled to
\nnine years of mandatory education for free.<\/p>\n
Indra Djati said the stipulation remained ideal as the current
\neducation budget only accounts for up to 5.8 percent of the state
\nbudget, or around Rp 21 trillion.<\/p>\n
\"Ideally it should be 20 percent, most of which would be spent
\non teachers' salaries like it is in Norway and other Scandinavian
\ncountries,\" Indra said.<\/p>\n
Apart from the budget constraints, Indra said it was difficult
\nfor the government to supervise schools in the region after the
\nAutonomy Law came into force.<\/p>\n
\"Schools have the right to manage their money. It's the job of
\nthe local education agency and society to monitor the schools,\"
\nIndra said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/corruption-is-rampant-in-schools-icw-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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