'I don't want my children to end up like me'<\/p>\n
As more parents realize the importance of a good education, they
\nare sending their children to the best schools in town or
\nfinancing overseas educations for their sons and daughters.
\nHowever, the costs involved mean that some parents can only dream
\nabout providing their children with the best education possible.
\nThe Jakarta Post talked to residents about the cost of education.<\/p>\n
Waginem, 40, is a door-to-door vegetable seller in Pondok
\nBambu, East Jakarta. She lives in a rental house in the area with
\nher husband:<\/p>\n
I left my two children at my mother's house in Kulon Progo
\n(Yogyakarta). My husband and I think that this is best for all of
\nus, although sometimes I miss them so much I can't stand it.<\/p>\n
By staying in the village, my children can go to school
\nbecause I don't have to spend millions of rupiah for their
\nadmission fees, tuition fees and other necessities for their
\nstudies. If they were living here with us, I can't even imagine
\nhow much money I would have to pay to send them to school.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, my children ask me when they can move to Jakarta
\nwith us. I always tell them that it's better for them to stay in
\nthe village and go to school than to move to Jakarta, where we
\ncouldn't afford the school fees.<\/p>\n
I don't want my children to end up like me, a vegetable
\nseller, or like their father, an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver. I
\nwant them to be somebody, have a job where they make enough money
\nto start their own families.<\/p>\n
Ida, 36, is a minister. She lives in Sukamantri, Tangerang,
\nwith her two children. Her husband died three years ago:<\/p>\n
My husband and I decided back then to register our children at
\na Catholic school because we believed that they offered a better
\neducation than state schools.<\/p>\n
However, there is always a price to pay. The tuition fee was
\nvery high and we could not afford it. We had to meet with the
\nprincipal to ask for a reduction in our children's tuition. We
\nwere lucky that the principal agreed to help us.<\/p>\n
Since my husband died, it has been harder for me to pay the
\neducation fees. This year, my oldest son is going to junior high
\nschool. I don't believe that we will be able to get a reduction,
\nso we will have to pay Rp 250,000 (US$27) in monthly tuition.
\nStill, I'm lucky that my son was the top scorer on the admission
\ntest, so we got free admission.<\/p>\n
I don't understand why education is becoming more expensive
\nand harder these days ... schools are very business-oriented
\nnowadays. I just hope that I will be able to send my children at
\nleast to high school. I may not be able to send them to
\nuniversity.<\/p>\n
-- The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-dont-want-my-children-to-end-up-like-me-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }