Grade school officials told no extra fees<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State elementary schools in Jakarta are not
\nallowed to charge new students for uniforms or books, an official
\nsays.<\/p>\n
The head of the city education agency, Suparmo, said yesterday
\nthat each school is allowed to charge new students only Rp 1,750
\n(US$ 76 cents) in admission fees.<\/p>\n
\"Headmasters or teachers are not allowed to require students
\nto pay for uniforms or books. I will take firm action against
\nunscrupulous school principals who charge new students these
\nfees,\" he said. He made the proviso that additional charges are
\npermissible with the approval of the parent-teacher association.<\/p>\n
Every year many parents complain they are forced by school
\nprincipals to pay additional fees when they enroll their
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
These demands by school principals flout the government's
\npolicy on compulsory education which exempts students of state
\nelementary and junior high schools from all tuition fees.<\/p>\n
Suparmo said that any proposed fees must be discussed with the
\nparent-teacher association.<\/p>\n
If the association refuses to approve the additional fees, the
\nschool principals must abide by the association's decision, he
\nsaid. \"Let the students buy their own uniforms.\"<\/p>\n
However, Suparmo said, if the association does agree to
\ncharging new students such fees, the school must grant poorer
\nfamilies exemptions.<\/p>\n
Suparmo said that more than a million children will enroll for
\nthe first grade of elementary school in the upcoming student year
\nat Jakarta's 2,601 state schools. Registration will end by the
\nend of this month, while the new academic year will start next
\nmonth. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/grade-school-officials-told-no-extra-fees-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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