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.