Well-versed parents may prevent graft in schools

Well-versed parents may prevent graft in schools

Recent reports of alleged corruption cases in several state
schools have shocked Jakartans, particularly parents. As the
current state budget allocated for education falls far short of
the 20 percent mandated in the Constitution, many schools ask
parents to pay maintenance fees.The Jakarta Post's Urip Hudiono
has been looking into this issue. This is the last of three
articles.

Education experts are urging parents to be more involved in the
affairs of their children's schools, as graft cases at schools
are believed to be caused by officials taking advantage of the
general lack of knowledge on how a school is run.

Dharmaningtyas from the Center for the Betterment of Education
said parents should be empowered through awareness of their
rights in participating in the management of schools.

"Parents have to understand that it is now their right -- and
responsibility -- to supervise how a school is run," he said.

"For that purpose, the government should educate them on the
importance of school committees, and that they must be involved
in the committees' establishment."

Dharmaningtyas said the center would also help out by
compiling information on the reasonable amount of funds required
to manage a school, so parents can refer to it when school
officials request donations or additional fees.

Similarly, Sarasdewi from the National Education Watch urged
parents to be more proactive in criticizing school policies they
do not agree with -- particularly in regards the school budget.

"Parents should realize they contribute to the school's
finances, so they should demand that school officials allocate
the funds properly in the best interests of their children's
education," she said.

"In extreme cases, parents should report any school official
found to be discriminating against students whose parents were
critical to the National Commission for Child Protection."

In order to nurture a critical stance among parents, Sarasdewi
suggested that parents set up some kind of forum among themselves
to discuss school affairs.

"Even though a school already has a school committee, parents
-- at least those whose children are in the same class -- should
actively maintain contact with each other to talk about the
school and how their children's education is progressing," she
said.

Dharmaningtyas asserted that preventing corruption at schools
through continuous parent participation was more important than
exposing and investigating the cases after the fact.

"Many suspected graft cases reported to the City Education
Agency usually stop short of resolution. Even if graft is
discovered, the agency would simply transfer the principal to
another school," he said.

"Reporting the cases to the police would also be useless, they
would likely end up being mired in the country's renowned muddy
legal system."

I-Box

What parents can do to prevent graft at schools:

1. Always be critical toward any request for donations,
especially for purposes that should be covered by state funds --
like final exams and teacher's salaries -- and those that appear
ambiguous and/or unnecessary, such as anniversaries and other
celebratory events.
2. Demand that a school committee be formed if it has not been
already, and that its members be elected directly and
transparently by parents, teachers and the public.
3. Secure invitations to/participation in any and all meetings
held by the school committee -- especially budget-related
meetings -- and attend them.
4. Refuse any requests for donations/fees that have been made
without the knowledge/approval of the school committee.
5. Demand that the school budget be audited.