Government officials denied Wednesday allegations by a UN body that Indonesia has misused international aid intended for educational development.
The 2006 UNESCO annual global report reveals that leakages in international funds allocated for school improvement grant programs reached 30 percent last year.
The report, which evaluates 60 countries worldwide, indicates that Indonesian officials in many areas throughout the country diverted funds from recipient schools and that construction consultants charged schools for services that were supposed to be provided free of charge.
Director general for elementary and high schools at the Education Ministry, Suyanto, maintained the government had not handled any aid from UNESCO and that it was impossible that the funds could have been misused.
"It's not true. Where's the proof? UNESCO executed the disbursement of funds themselves," Suyanto said Friday after launching a one-roof program for elementary and junior high schools.
He added that the ministry was able to audit any funds entering its budget.
"We have an inspectorate general, the development finance controller, NGOs and communities to monitor funding. Had there been even a little misuse of money, there would have been a lot of reports on it," he said.
Suyanto said funds from international agencies are usually tacked onto the state budget before being disbursed to local administrations and schools.
"We use the PricewaterhouseCoopers public accountant's office to audit international funds. They are an independent auditor," he said.
Meanwhile, minister-counselor for the Australian government's overseas aid program AUSAID, Andrew Collins, said his office would work with the ministry to ensure that funds arrive at their intended destinations.
"We take that as a very important element in every program in Indonesia. Having an appropriate mechanism for the proper channeling of funds is something we are concerned about generally," he said.
"We will work very closely with the minister on this subject."
Source : www.thejakartapost.com
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