Strong supervision vital in fighting corruption

Strong supervision vital in fighting corruption

JAKARTA (JP): The way to fight corruption in the bureaucracy
is by strengthening supervision at all levels, from the top to
the bottom, Vice President Try Sutrisno said yesterday.

During a meeting with top officials of the Ministry of
Education and Culture, Try said most embezzlement and power
abuses occurred because of weak supervision.

Such supervision could come from superiors within the system,
or from outside forces, including the legislative body and the
mass media, he said.

"We have to strengthen supervision. We have to make it part of
our culture and reflect it in our daily behavior," said the
retired Army general, whose portfolio includes heading the
government's anti-corruption campaign.

He said his office has opened a post office box to deal with
public complaints about embezzlement and abuses within the
administration.

The PO Box 5000 was opened by Try's predecessor Sudharmono in
1988. The mail box now receives on average 50 letters each day.
All letters are treated confidentially and are referred to the
government agencies concerned for action.

During the meeting, Try voiced concern to the Ministry
officials about reports that the Ministry of Education and
Culture had been slow in responding to public complaints that
came through PO Box 5000.

Premises

Yesterday's meeting was attended by Minister of Education and
Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, State Minister of Administrative
Reforms T.B. Silalahi and Cabinet Secretary Minister Saadillah
Mursjid.

Try also questioned some of the premises upon which the
education and culture sectors have been developed.

He said the education system in Indonesia appeared to put more
emphasis on academic development than on practical skill because
people were after the social status afforded to university
graduates rather than intellectual development.

"Does everybody have to become scholars?" he asked.

For example, he said, Indonesia's fishery sector needs skilled
and qualified people to run it especially given that Indonesia
still prides itself on being a maritime nation.

Try voiced the public's concern that the education system is
geared towards producing as many graduates as possible without
looking at the quality of the graduates.

Cautioning against overgeneralization, as many Indonesians
have excellent academic achievements, Try called for
introspection by those responsible for education development.

Try emphasized the need for strengthening the curriculum and
the training of teachers.

"Teachers are one of the factors that determine the quality of
our education," he said.

Try also supported the emergence of the so-called "elite
schools" saying that they may provide the breakthrough needed to
strengthen Indonesia's human resources.

This country, he said, needs a few more such schools.

Several elite senior high schools have been established in
Jakarta and other cities in the past few years, most charging
hefty tuition fees that only the wealthy can afford. Only one,
which is run by the military, offers free tuition, and enrollment
is strictly based on performance. (31)