Confusion reigns over free schooling in the capital<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
It has been more than five months since the government promised
\ncompensation for the last fuel-price hike in the form of free
\neducation during the compulsory school years.<\/p>\n
Another price hike is on the way, and yet free schooling
\nremains just a promise.<\/p>\n
\"We have not received the promised money, but we have been
\ntold to come and sign the paperwork tomorrow,\" said Kimik
\nRumyati, the head teacher of State Elementary School No. 3 in
\nLimo, Depok.<\/p>\n
Earlier in May, the government declared that part of money
\nsaved on fuel subsidies would be used to pay for free during
\ncompulsory school years starting this academic year -- which
\nactually started in August -- and promised that the subsidy
\nscheme would be sustained.<\/p>\n
However, as of Monday, schools in Greater Jakarta had yet to
\nreceive the promised Rp 235,000 annual subsidy for each
\nelementary school student or the Rp 324,500 for each junior high
\nschool student.<\/p>\n
The money is supposed to cover ten items: enrollment forms;
\nschool stationary; books; examination fees; extracurricular
\nactivities; minor building maintenance; electricity, water and
\ntelephone bills; teachers' bonuses; training fees, and the
\ntransportation costs of students from poor families.<\/p>\n
However, many school managements have yet to determine how the
\nmoney will be employed.<\/p>\n
\"Basically, we will use it to maintain the quality of the
\neducation we provide,\" Kimik said, without going into details.<\/p>\n
But she added that whatever plan was adopted, it would not
\ninclude the establishment of a library -- something the school
\nhas lacked ever since it was built in the 1980s.<\/p>\n
With 20 percent of the school's 407 students coming from poor
\nfamilies, Kimik said that it would still lack money even with
\nafter the subsidies were paid. Currently, parents must pay Rp
\n7,000 in monthly fees, Rp 152,500 every six months for books and
\nRp 390,000 as an enrollment fee.<\/p>\n
\"Our annual running costs have risen to Rp 160 million from Rp
\n132 million last year,\" she said. \"We don't see how we can
\nrelieve parents of the obligation to pay fees.\"<\/p>\n
The managers of a number of other schools in Jakarta echoed
\nKimik's comments. \"We will ask parents whether they want the
\nmonthly fees to be cut or use the money to be used for other
\nthings,\" said the headmistress of a state elementary school in
\nSouth Jakarta, who requested anonymity.<\/p>\n
At this school, parents are required to pay monthly fees of
\nbetween Rp 35,000 and Rp 50,000, and Rp 235,000 for books. \"The
\nchoice will be to maintain the current quality for free, or to
\nkeep paying fees and improve quality,\" the principal said.<\/p>\n
Both the Jakarta and Depok elementary education agencies said
\nthat the money had been paid into the designated banks or post
\noffice branches on Monday.<\/p>\n
However, much has been left to the discretion of the schools.<\/p>\n
\"Basically, the schools are given the freedom to choose how
\nthey will use the money as long as they do so in accordance with
\nthe guidelines,\" said the director of the Jakarta Elementary
\nEducation Agency, Sylviana Murni. \"But, it is a must that the
\nschools provide completely free education for poor students.\"<\/p>\n
Sylviana explained that schools were required to submit
\nmonthly financial reports and would be closely monitored by the
\nagency's supervisory team. (003)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/confusion-reigns-over-free-schooling-in-the-capital-1447893297",
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