Use of school subsidy funds

Use of school subsidy funds

From Warta Kota

As a school teacher, I have been informed that primary school students will now be subsidized to the tune of Rp 20,000 each. Since 2004, our school has received Rp 15,000 per student but the money often comes very late and has to be spent on other purposes.

The school treasurer is frequently confused because as soon as the money arrives, bills for the activities of the school principal, teacher training and equipment upgrading have to be paid, leaving only around 30 percent of the money for the students.

How can we help our students while 80 percent of them belong to very poor families? I also wonder if the various bills are legal. Some school principals reportedly even convene "working meetings" outside Java and travel by plane to these.

The government should explain the do's and don'ts as regards the utilization of school subsidy funds and leave off boasting about how the redirecting of the fuel subsidies will help the poor.

SYAHRIATI HANTORO Jakarta