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)