The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) monitored and evaluated the implementation of anticorruption education at elementary and secondary schools. From Monday through Friday (Nov. 11-15), KPK and governments of Gorontalo and West Java (Bekasi City, Bogor City, Cirebon Regency) visited 15 schools that have incorporated anticorruption material into their curriculum.

KPK Spokesperson Febri Diansyah said the schools should prepare lessons plan that include integrity values. The main principle of anticorruption lesson is exemplary, he said, that teachers play critical role in class.

Febry said KPK was aware the obstacle in implementing anticorruption values is related to morality. Therefore, KPK pushed for moral education since early on and encouraged teacher’s innovation and creativity in inserting the values of integrity in class, “to make it attractive and practical,” he said.

KPK discovered that several schools have creative ways in instilling character building into the lessons. A teacher, for example, gave score for students who are neatly dressed, punctual, and showing other indications of good characters. The school where the teacher works provided score card and the teacher checked the list every morning. Students who performed well would have their names announced during the flag ceremony every Monday. Others who did not fare well, such as being late for three times, would have their parents summoned to school. It was not aimed to punish the students, but to find the root of the problem and find the solution.

At another school, KPK found a highly committed principal who gave direction and evaluation every morning for teachers, to ensure the insertion of integrity values in class as planned.

In the effort to implement anticorruption education in schools, KPK in December 2018 worked with the Ministry of Education and Culture; the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education; the Ministry of Religious Affairs; and the Ministry of Home Affairs to build the commitment to implement the education at elementary and secondary schools, including Islamic-based schools.

The joint commitment led to the issuance of four regulations at the central level as the legal basis to implement anticorruption education. The regulations are Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation No. 20/2018 on Strengthening Character Education at Formal Education System; Circular of Director General of Learning and University Students at the Research Ministry No. 468/B/SE/2017 on the Introduction of Campus Life to New Students; Circular of Islamic Education Director General at the Ministry of Religious Affairs No. B-1368/Dj.I/05/2019 on Anticorruption Education at Islamic School; and Circulars of Home Affairs Minister on the Implementation of Character and Anticorruption Culture Education at Schools No. 420/4047/SJ and No. 420/4048/SJ.

Febri said that as a follow-up, KPK urged regional governments to issue relevant regulation as the basis to implement anticorruption education at elementary and junior high schools at regency/city level, and senior high school for provincial government.

Eighty regulations have been issued so far: three gubernatorial regulations in Central Java, Lampung and Bali; and 77 regent and mayor regulations. The regulations covered the implementation of anticorruption education in 46,286 schools (3,796 senior high school, 7,670 junior high schools and 34,820 elementary schools).

KPK urged other local governments to issue similar regulation so that many more schools implement anticorruption education. The implementation is expected to create anticorruption culture ecosystem at the formal sector that plays the major role in building the character of young generation.

Ever since the inception of KPK, the strategy to eradicate corruption does not only focus on enforcement, but also through the improvement of system/governance and education. Education is important to hinder people’s intention to perpetrate corruption crime.

“Therefore, KPK finds it critical to infuse the values of integrity into education to build the character and boost the moral values of young generation,” Febri said.

Prior to Gorontalo and West Java, KPK had conducted the monitoring and evaluation in Bali and Central Java in October 2019. The same activities will be held in North Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara, Riau, South Kalimantan, Jakarta and East Java.