Research commissioned by the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) since the National Education System Law came in to effect in 2003 revealed an increasing trend of corruption in education over the last decade.

The watchdog's observations were based on printed and online media as well as from Indonesia's civil society network. It found 296 corruption cases, which had caused losses totaling Rp 619 billion (US$51.7 million) to the state, had been prosecuted.

'It can be said that budget irregularities occur in six out of ten schools in Indonesia,' said Febri Hendri from the ICW's public service monitoring division.

He disclosed the results during a focus group discussion held by Yayasan Satu Karsa Karya (YSKK) in Surakarta, Sunday.

Embezzlement was the most common 'method of operation'. Hendri said 106 of the total 296 cases were embezzlement.

Around 50 percent of the cases featured the embezzlement of the School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds and Special Allocation Fund (DAK).

Meanwhile, the Education Agency at regency and municipality levels was ranked as having the highest level of corruption in the education sector. Of 296 cases, 151 cases were found in the Education Agency while the remainder took place in the Education and Culture Ministry.

In 2013, only 16 corruption cases had been prosecuted but financial losses amounted to Rp 121.2 billion, much higher than in 2008, when 72 cases only caused Rp 143.7 billion in losses to the state. (ebf)