Principal defends umroh trip<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post\/Tangerang<\/p>\n
The principal of state SMA I high school in Pamulang, Tangerang,
\nDedi Rafidi, defended on Friday his decision to finance the haj
\npilgrimages of several school teachers and staff, saying it was
\nan incentive aimed at boosting their performance.<\/p>\n
Dedi also told visiting councillors from Tangerang regency
\nthat his decision had also received the backing of the school
\ncommittee, whose members consist of parents of students attending
\nthe school.<\/p>\n
\"The use of school funds for the minor haj pilgrimage (umroh)
\nof teachers and security guards was discussed with the school
\ncommittee and students' parents,\" Dedi told a meeting attended by
\nTangerang councillors, school committee members and students'
\nparents.<\/p>\n
The school financed the umroh of six teachers in the past two
\nyears and several security guards in 2005, using school funds.<\/p>\n
Umroh costs around Rp 15 million (US$1,500) per person.<\/p>\n
Dedi said that umroh trips were offered to teachers and school
\nstaff as a sign of appreciation for their achievements and good
\nperformance.<\/p>\n
\"We apply such a policy in order to encourage teachers to
\nachieve a lot and perform well, which will in turn result in high
\nachievements for students and a good reputation for the school,\"
\nhe reasoned.<\/p>\n
Soon after the meeting, Eni Suhaeni, the commission deputy
\nspeaker who led the meeting, declared that there had been no
\npolicy violation in the decision.<\/p>\n
\"Utilizing school funds to finance the teachers' umroh was
\ndone with the consent of the school committee and parents of
\nstudents,\" the councillor of the United Development Party (PPP)
\nfaction said.<\/p>\n
However, Golkar councillor M. Fachrurrozi maintained that Dedi
\nhad violated regulations by financing the minor haj pilgrimage of
\nteachers and security guards with school funds.<\/p>\n
\"Going on the umroh is a personal matter. It is completely
\nwrong to use school funds for this purpose. I don't think parents
\nshould pay for the personal travel of teachers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said it would have been better if the money had been used
\nto purchase educational equipment to support students' learning
\nactivities.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/principal-defends-iumrohi-trip-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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