Drop out rate high in W. Java schools<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Kuningan<\/p>\n
Financial hardship could force over 16,000 elementary school
\nstudents in the West Java towns of Kuningan and Cirebon to drop
\nout of school this year, officials say.<\/p>\n
Head of Kuningan's education office Momon Rochmana said on
\nTuesday that at least 6,000 of 60,000 elementary school students
\nin Kuningan -- which has 376 schools in 32 districts -- would
\ndiscontinue their studies this year.<\/p>\n
In Cirebon municipality, 10,073 elementary school students
\nfrom low-income families have said they will probably not attend
\nhigh school.<\/p>\n
However, Momon said the figures were preliminary as his office
\nwas in the process of compiling a list of children whose parents
\nwere in difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n
"We don't want them to be excluded from school. We have listed
\n6,000 students who cannot attend high school. (Once we complete
\nthe list) that number could increase," said Momon.<\/p>\n
He said the Kuningan administration planned to issue cards
\nthat exempted poor students from paying fees. The program, funded
\nby the West Java administration, will start in the new school
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Kuningan Regent Aang Hamid Suganda said the financial
\nassistance amounted to some Rp 3.4 billion.<\/p>\n
However, Hamid said, only 3,400 elementary school students
\nwould receive assistance through the project.<\/p>\n
Under the program, each student will be granted assistance
\nworth Rp 1 million per year in the form of textbooks, paper and
\npens, transport money, school uniforms and shoes. It will also
\ncover their monthly tuition fees.<\/p>\n
Aang said the money would be managed by district heads to
\nensure it reached its target.<\/p>\n
"The intention is to cut red tape and to ensure the students
\nwho need it most are assisted. District heads will work closely
\nwith subdistrict heads," he said.<\/p>\n
The regent said his administration was working on how to
\nassist the 2,400-plus students who would not receive help through
\nthe program, including allocating Rp 400 million from the
\nregency's budget.<\/p>\n
Only the amount, he said, was not enough to cover their
\noverall needs of around Rp 2.4 billion.<\/p>\n
"We'll also ask businesspeople, public figures and the wealthy
\nto help those poor students. I hope the call is responded to
\npositively," Aang said.<\/p>\n
The deputy mayor of Cirebon, Agus Al Wafier, however, was not
\ncertain how poor students in the municipality would be helped to
\nattend high school.<\/p>\n
"We are trying to solve the problem by looking for financial
\nsources, including the money saved from slashing the fuel
\nsubsidy," Agus said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drop-out-rate-high-in-w-java-schools-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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