TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama said the Jakarta administration had dismissed nine principals of state schools in Jakarta for imposing illegal charges. He added their action had sullied the reputation of the capital’s education sector, which his government still reorganized.

Illegal charges are against the spirit or anti-corruption,” he said at the City Hall on Friday, January 23, 2015.

Ahok said the Jakarta Education Agency discovered the illegal charges at nine schools: SMAN (state high school) 41 in North Jakarta, SMAN 79 in South Jakarta, SDN (state elementary school) Tebet Barat 08 in South Jakarta, SDN Karang Anyar 08, SDN Malaka Jaya 05 Pagi (morning shift), SDN Dukuh 09 Pagi, SDN Palmerah 03 Pagi, SDN Margasari 09 and SDN Dukuh.

Ahok said the school’s principals collected illegal charges for various reasons. He added the principals were taking the illicit money despite having signed an integrity pact to realize peaceful, anti-corruption schools on December 30, 2014.

Ahok explained teachers had a key role as pillars of change to create a better generation and must become role models for their students.

“If the teachers are corrupt, then how can the students be good?” he said. “That’s hypocrisy.”

LINDA HAIRANI | DINI PRAMITA