C. Java students report money irregularities at science fair

Suherdjoko ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Semarang   |  Tue, 07/22/2008 10:14 AM  |  The Archipelago

Some 250 students from Central Java, taking part in a weeklong science fair in the provincial capital of Semarang, revealed fiscal irregularities allegedly involving the provincial education and culture office.

The irregularities were detected when the students were asked to sign a transportation allowance receipt worth Rp 200,000 (US$21.7) per person, which was put inside an envelope.

"When asked by two staff members of the education and culture office to sign the receipt, we were shocked to find another receipt for pocket money which we had to sign though we didn't get the money," Susetyadi Tri Panarso, a university student from Salatiga, said here over the weekend.

The pocket money amounted to Rp 71.4 million and, had it been distributed, each student would have received Rp 285,500 excluding the transportation allowance.

Susetyadi added the education and culture office had also allocated Rp 11 million to make jackets for the province's participants, but they did not receive any money or jackets.

Realizing the apparent deception, the students lodged protests with the education and culture office.

"We don't want the money. We are just demanding the education office be fair and transparent in providing financial assistance for the province's participants," Susetyadi said.

Some students returned money to the head of the nonformal education section, Satoto Rahardjo, in some cases rudely, expressing their annoyance.

The students urged the education office to make an open apology and to publish a report accounting for the funding in the national media by the end of next month at the latest.

Speaking at a press conference Saturday morning, Satoto, who first attributed the problem to mistyping, said the two treasurers tasked with distributing the money in fact had been asked to explain how much money each student would receive.

"The organizing committee failed to give them a microphone, but the money was distributed anyway because the students were about to leave for home," Satoto said.

Satoto then explained each student should have received Rp 529,000 in pocket money and transportation allowance and a jacket. The provincial government has allocated Rp 132 million for the province's participants.

"That fund has not yet been disbursed by the provincial finance bureau. What we gave the other day as a transportation reimbursement is actually an advance," Satoto said.

The organizing committee's spokesman Dedi Rusdi denied Satoto's explanation, saying the event had always been scheduled for July. "We never changed the schedule," he said.

Dedi's explanation further confirmed for the students their allegation had merit.

Satoto, however, denied the accusation, saying there was no intention to embezzle the students' money.

"We have met with the vice rectors of the participating universities. We promise to give the rest of the money to the students early next month," he said.

The five-day science contest attended by 2,500 students from 110 universities nationwide concluded last Friday with Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java, emerging as winner.

Last year, the trophy was won by Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

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