City Council investigating school graft

The City Council has established a special committee to investigate the alleged misappropriation of educational aid funds worth a total of Rp 5.6 billion (US$ 625,200).

The committee was formed last week and would begin their work next week, Council Deputy Speaker Inggard Joshua said on Friday.

“This case involves taxpayer money. [The city administration] is responsible for this,” Inggard said.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Audit Agency said it had found indications of misappropriation of School Operational Aid (BOS) and Education Operational Aid (BOP) at six state-run junior high schools and one international standard pilot-project elementary school.

The audit agency report said there were a number of accounting problems in the financial reports of the schools and there were indications of losses of Rp 1.1 billion at the junior high schools and Rp 4.5 billion at the elementary school.

Indonesia Corruption Watch has alleged that school officials misappropriated funds from the central government’s BOS and the Jakarta administration’s BOP between 2007 and 2008.

Under the BOS, schools receive Rp 47,900 per eligible student per month, while under the BOP, each eligible student receives Rp 110,000 a month. Funds are earmarked to help finance school activities, including stationery and books.