Putri Prameshwari, Jakarta – The law on freedom of information received its first major test on Wednesday when an antigraft watchdog reported the education minister for failing to disclose documents deemed to be of public interest.
Febri Hendri, a senior researcher with Indonesia Corruption Watch, said Education Minister Muhammad Nuh had violated the 2010 Freedom of Information Law when his ministry failed to publish a report on the use of funds earmarked for schools in the process of attaining international status, known as RSBI schools.
"We've asked for such documents to be published since June, but there's been no follow-up from the ministry," Febri said.
ICW filed its complaint with the Commission for Public Information (KIP) on Wednesday.
According to the 2003 Education Law, each district or city is obliged to have at least one RSBI school at the elementary, junior high and senior high levels. Those schools will then attain full international standing over the next few years.
RSBI schools are required to give lessons in Indonesian and English, have fewer students per class and adopt a curriculum integrating national and international education standards, including those used in developed countries.
Each school gets a block grant of Rp 300 million to Rp 500 million ($33,000 to $55,000) a year from the Education Ministry to buy equipment and hire staff members.
"The ministry has failed to show transparency with 1,100 RSBI schools across Indonesia," Febri said. "Therefore it has violated the [freedom of information] law."
He said investigations by his group had shown that some of the block grants were embezzled, citing the discovery of fake receipts at one Jakarta school that indicated up to Rp 150 million may have been pilfered.
Usman Abdhali Watik, a KIP member, said the commission would study the ICW's report before scheduling a meeting between the watchdog and the Education Ministry.
"We'll see if the report warrants a follow-up," he said. "If it does, we'll call for a mediation 14 working days from Wednesday."
Usman also said that it was the first time a ministry had been reported to the commission since the Freedom of Information Law came into effect earlier this year.
He said the case was also special because it was Nuh who had drafted the law in 2008, when he was minister of communications and information technology.
"We certainly hope that this case can be resolved and set a precedent for similar cases," Usman said. "Otherwise it will be an ironic twist for Nuh."
No one from the ministry was available for comment on the issue when contacted by the Jakarta Globe.