Councillors take degrees, funded by city budget

JAKARTA (JP): Studying from birth until death appears to be the motto of 80 city councillors currently pursuing undergraduate degrees in political science and master's degrees in management, courtesy of the city.

The chairman of the council's Commission C for budgetary and financial affairs, Amarullah Asbah, confirmed on Monday that the councillors' studies were being paid for with money from the city budget.

"I think it's normal to fund their studies since the city administration has allocated money for the education of its employees," Amarullah of the Golkar Party said. Amarullah is not one of the councillors pursuing a degree.

He said continued education was necessary to improve the knowledge of the councillors, who have the task of controlling a city administration run by officials with superior skills and educations.

A reliable source at the City Council said about 50 councillors were studying political science at the 17 Agustus University, while some 30 councillors were studying management at the Jagakarsa Institute of Economics.

"The lectures for both programs are held in the council building twice a week, in the evening," the source, who requested anonymity, said.

He said most of the councillors studying political science were from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), including Sayogo Hendro Subroto, who is the chairman of the council's Commission D for development affairs.

Another councillor pursuing an undergraduate degree in political science is Tadjus Sobirin, who is a former chairman of the Golkar Party's city chapter, the source said.

The councillors studying for their master's degrees come from various parties, including Pantas Nainggolan of PDI Perjuangan, Muhayar of the Justice Party and Posman Siahaan of the Justice and Unity Party, the source said.

According to the source, some councillors who already have master's degrees are still taking advantage of the free lectures, including Wasilah Sutrisno of the National Mandate Party, who has a master's in religious studies. (jun)