House commission rejects education budget for 2001

JAKARTA (JP): A House of Representatives commission has rejected the Rp 11.4 trillion for education allotted in the draft 2001 budget, saying the government should allocate at least 10 percent of the state budget to education if it truly wants to start resolving the country's poor human resources problem.

The rejection came at the end of a hearing here on Wednesday between the House's Commission VI for education and social welfare and Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin.

"We are very disappointed with the fact that the draft education budget is only about 3.38 percent of the state budget," commission chairman Ibnu Munzir BW of the Golkar Party told the hearing, adding that ideally education should be allocated 20 percent of the draft state budget which stands at about 295.1 trillion.

"The commission unanimously agrees to reject the existing draft budget for education and we ask for a minimum of 10 percent (of the state budget) which is about Rp 29 trillion from the state budget," Ibnu added.

"This is far below the minimum need. It's a disgrace to our country and our government should be ashamed!" Ibnu charged.

Legislators further decried the fact that there was only a marginal increase for education in the proposed 2001 budget, which runs for 12-months, compared to the 2000 budget which ran for 9-months.

The 2000 state budget allocated Rp 11 trillion for education, according to legislator Muhammadi of the Reform Faction. He added that it was "outrageous to set a 12 month education budget with only Rp. 11.22 trillion".

Legislators suggested that the increase could be allocated from the Rp 56 trillion available in general allocation funds (DAU) in the state budget.

The general allocation fund is meant to be channeled through to the regions in accordance with the implementation of regional autonomy.

"We also demand delays on debt payment so that some of the budget can be used for education," Ibnu said.

The Ministry of National Education has previously submitted a Rp 27.028 trillion education budget for 2001. However the proposal was severely cut as the government drafted the final submitted budget.

Minister Yahya acknowledged that with the current allocated funds many programs would have to cease.

He pointed out that with Rp 11.4 trillion the ministry would have trouble even running its three main programs -- the mandatory nine-year education program, improvement of teachers' welfare and subsidies for private schools.

"We even almost have no money to fight illiteracy," Yahya remarked.

Education observer Anhar Gonggong, who is also director of history and museums, however warned that a bigger budget in education must be followed by tight control of the ministry's efficiency and programs.

"This is the first time in the ministry's history that a commission rejected the proposed education budget...But keep in mind that if we get a bigger budget we have to make sure that it is used properly and all the loopholes for corruption must be eradicated".

"The fund must go directly to the schools," Anhar asserted. (edt)