Principal defends umroh trip

Principal defends umroh trip

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post/Tangerang

The principal of state SMA I high school in Pamulang, Tangerang,
Dedi Rafidi, defended on Friday his decision to finance the haj
pilgrimages of several school teachers and staff, saying it was
an incentive aimed at boosting their performance.

Dedi also told visiting councillors from Tangerang regency
that his decision had also received the backing of the school
committee, whose members consist of parents of students attending
the school.

"The use of school funds for the minor haj pilgrimage (umroh)
of teachers and security guards was discussed with the school
committee and students' parents," Dedi told a meeting attended by
Tangerang councillors, school committee members and students'
parents.

The school financed the umroh of six teachers in the past two
years and several security guards in 2005, using school funds.

Umroh costs around Rp 15 million (US$1,500) per person.

Dedi said that umroh trips were offered to teachers and school
staff as a sign of appreciation for their achievements and good
performance.

"We apply such a policy in order to encourage teachers to
achieve a lot and perform well, which will in turn result in high
achievements for students and a good reputation for the school,"
he reasoned.

Soon after the meeting, Eni Suhaeni, the commission deputy
speaker who led the meeting, declared that there had been no
policy violation in the decision.

"Utilizing school funds to finance the teachers' umroh was
done with the consent of the school committee and parents of
students," the councillor of the United Development Party (PPP)
faction said.

However, Golkar councillor M. Fachrurrozi maintained that Dedi
had violated regulations by financing the minor haj pilgrimage of
teachers and security guards with school funds.

"Going on the umroh is a personal matter. It is completely
wrong to use school funds for this purpose. I don't think parents
should pay for the personal travel of teachers," he said.

He said it would have been better if the money had been used
to purchase educational equipment to support students' learning
activities.