Bilhuda Haryanto, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights is planning to help teachers file corruption complaints with the antigraft body.

M Ridha Saleh, a member of the commission, known as Komnas HAM, told a group of visiting teachers on Thursday that it would help file complaints with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) if enough data were provided.

"This issue is not about these teachers but also about the image of our national education system," he said. "We will demand a clear confirmation from the concerned ministries, school commissions and principals."

Retno Listyanti, chairwoman of the Jakarta Teachers Council, said the need for action had been highlighted by the dismissal of 12 teachers at SMAN 1 high school in Puwarkarta, West Java, in July last year who had alleged irregularities in the management of the school budget.

"Teachers are being intimidated when they question irregularities. Their voices are muzzled and they are even dismissed," she said.

Teachers, she added, have to be more proactive in fighting for their rights. Retno said the "unjust dismissals" had been reported to Purwakarta officials and the education office but there had been no follow up.

She suspected school officials and members of the local education office had colluded in an effort to silence the teachers.

One of the dismissed teachers said the layoffs came after they had complained the school's registration fund was open to graft. "According to data we have received, there was Rp 1.2 billion [$135,000] in the fund," the teacher said. "But the principal told us it had just Rp 800 million."

Indonesia Corruption Watch has said there are indications of irregularities pointing toward corruption involving schools' registration funds. "The amounts are quite alarming," the ICW's Ade Irawan said on Thursday while declining to name any school.

"From Rp 1.5 billion up to Rp 10 billion, school principals sometimes reserve 20 to 30 percent for themselves." Ade said ignoring small corruption cases like that at SMAN 1 Purwakarta "could become a bad precedent unless we take immediate action to fix it as soon as possible."

Jimmy F Paat, from the Coalition of Education, encouraged teachers nationwide to expose problems in the school system.

"Corruption in education institutions is supposed to receive the upmost attention from legal authorities," he said. "It is ironic how the government always insists that teachers guide students away from corruption, while teachers who fight against corruption are being intimidated."