Mon, Apr 16, 2001 page2

• Officials reveal the tricks of the private school trade

  • By Chuang Chi-ting / STAFF REPORTER
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  A People First Party lawmaker and a Taipei City councilor yesterday held a press conference to unveil what they said were the tricks and corrupt practices private school administrators commonly use to acquire huge personal gains.

  "We hope to provide the Ministry of Education (教育部) with an orientation for cracking down on corruption and protecting students' rights," said PFP Legislator Chen Chao-jung (陳朝容).

  

  Taipei City Councilor Lin Ching-lung, right, and PFP Legislator Chen Chao-jung disclose the ways private school board members abuse their positions for personal profit at a press conference yesterday.

  PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

  Some board members of private schools make private purchases of cheap land and then propose the relocation of the school to these newly-acquired lands. These board members always make a large profit from such deals as they resell the land at a higher price, Chen said.

  Chen said that school board members also strike deals with licensed construction companies to carry out construction projects for the schools.

  "They then request more money for the construction projects than is needed and put the extra money into their own pockets," said Chen.

  Lin Ching-lung (林慶隆), a Taipei City councilor who previously served as an administrative official at a private school, accused many private school board members of importing goods that they themselves or their off-campus businesses need.

  By making fraudulent claims that these items are procured for educational purposes, they avoid paying taxes.

  Lin suggested that specialists under the education ministry's jurisdiction handle the account auditing and tax levying of private schools so that their financial operations may be effectively monitored.

  Chen and Lin also indicated that private school board members would commonly charge students additional fees even for services that should be provided for free.

  The lawmaker noted that many board members recruit people they trust to help them in their corrupt practices. They use their influence to have their relatives or close friends chosen for administrative posts at the school, such as those related to financial affairs, even though they may not be qualified for the jobs. These relatives or friends are usually paid high salaries, Chen said.

  Private school board members, according to Chen, deposit government subsidies for schools into their own bank accounts. They also invite private corporations to make donations toward school expansion projects and transfer funds thus acquired into personal accounts, he said.

  Chen Yen-chi (陳彥智), the lawmaker's chief assistant, said such board members either make use of their personal ties with government officials or put pressure on public representatives to obtain the education ministry's permission for school expansion projects.

  Moreover, some board members request that the government help them obtain lands and only pay low compensation sums to the current land users.

  "But in the end, most of the lands obtained through the help of the government are used for other purposes that earn profits for these board members," the assistant said.

  Corrupt school board members also find ways around laws governing the operation of private schools that may hinder their profit-seeking.

  There is a regulation which stipulates that notice for re-election of board members should be issued to existing members 10 days prior to a vote.

  Many board members, however, receive no such notification and find themselves being forced to leave their board seats. The assistant explained that this trickery facilitates the work of corrupt board members by removing people who may stand in the way of their personal gain.

  "Those who are less likely to engage in dishonest practices are expelled from the board," he said.

  Chen Chao-jung also noted that corrupt board members would also make a profit by selling places at the school to students who failed to meet the entry requirements.

  "Many private schools request a commission from parents whose children are not qualified to get into the schools because of poor performance in the entrance exam. Upon receiving the commission, the board members use their personal relationship with officials to make the enrollment possible," he said.
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