Principals acknoledge shift in scholarship funds<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several principals of city-run junior high schools admitted on
\nMonday that they had used scholarship funds for other school
\npurposes.<\/p>\n
Following the investigation into the principal of SMP 232 in
\nPulo Gadung, East Jakarta, who used scholarship funds to furbish
\nhis office, the principals found it necessary to explain that the
\nlaw entitled them to redirect the funds.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Principals Forum (MKS) chairman Waidjo Marbodo said
\nthat the redirection of scholarship funds was allowed under City
\nBasic Education Agency Decree No. 288\/2004 on the use of block
\ngrants from the city administration.<\/p>\n
The scholarship funds, the amounts of which are based on the
\nnumber of students at each school, come in block grants. Each
\nstudent is entitled to Rp 27,500 per month.<\/p>\n
\"We did our job based on the technical guidance,\" Waidjo told
\nThe Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the visit of 200 junior high
\nprincipals to the City Council on Monday. He, however, refused to
\nelaborate.<\/p>\n
The principals' argument contradict the decision made by the
\nagency and the Council's Commission E for education, health and
\npeople's welfare at a recent hearing that scholarship funds
\nshould be used only to help poor students.<\/p>\n
Commission E chairman Dani Anwar and agency head Sylviana
\nMurni stressed that there was no article in the decree that
\nauthorized principals to redirect funds in block grants.<\/p>\n
It was the councillors who found that SMP 232 had used some of
\nRp 131 million scholarship funds to buy a television, an air
\nconditioner and furniture for the principal's office, as well as
\na photocopy machine.<\/p>\n
The school last year proposed scholarships for its 798
\nstudents, but extended them to only 82 students.<\/p>\n
The police questioned SMP 232 principal Tri Jumena on Monday
\nin relation to the case. He refused to comment after, saying he
\nhad made a statement to the police.<\/p>",
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