TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - After delayed for almost nine months, the Jakarta Financial Management Body finally disbursed the budget for the Jakarta Smart Card (KJJP) on Friday last week, Jakarta Education Agency Head Lasro Marbun said on Monday, September 08, 2014.
According to Lasro, a total of 576,000 students have received the KJP fund that accumulated to about Rp700 billion (US$58.4 million) for one semester. Lasro added that students from different education levels received different amount of money. Junior high school students received Rp210,000 (US$17$) per month while elementary students received Rp180,000 (US$15) per month. The fund, Lasro said, will be given to students quarterly.
The disbursement of the KJP fund was delayed upon the recommendation from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The commission called on the Jakarta administration to monitor the social assistance and grants for 2014, including the KJP fund.
The anti-graft commission considered that the social assistance fund was vulnerable to be abused in a political year.
ERWAN HERMAWAN