No bribery in PSKD<\/p>\n
My attention was drawn, belatedly, to a letter written by Mr.
\nDennis Vargas titled Begging PSKD Mandiri (The Jakarta Post,
\nApril 14, 2001). Mr. Vargas' child was not immediately accepted
\nbut was put on a waiting list instead. He implied that a suitable
\nbribe could have solved his problem. Rather than being offended,
\nI was extremely pleased by his letter: if people are now willing
\nto bribe our school officials to get a child enrolled then we
\nmust be doing right at our Mandiri school.<\/p>\n
In the last two years our school has become popular since it
\nis, in the words of Mr. Vargas, \"a national-plus school with good
\nteaching quality and reasonable fees\". In addition, its location
\non Jl. Sam Ratulangi makes it easily reachable from many points,
\nin consequence, a waiting list for new enrollments became
\nunavoidable.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, many parents on the acceptance list wait until
\nthe very last minute to make up their mind so that those further
\ndown on the list are facing a rather frustrating and annoying
\nwaiting period. Recognizing this problem we are making extra
\nefforts to improve the system.<\/p>\n
Pleasing as it is to our ego that Mr. Vargas implied that we
\nhave so many applicants that a bribe is needed, his insinuation
\nis far off the mark. Our school association -- Perkumpulan
\nSekolah Kristen Djakarta (PSKD), i.e. the Djakarta Christian
\nSchool Association -- runs 22 schools, two campgrounds and a
\nhealth clinic. It is our way of demonstrating Christian
\nprinciples in the education world by establishing affordable and
\nquality schools for the inhabitants of Jakarta and its
\nsurroundings without any regard to economic, social, racial or
\nreligious origins.<\/p>\n
The PSKD runs \"elite\" schools such as the Mandiri schools or
\nSMA III PSKD on Jl. Kwini, and also runs schools in the
\neconomically challenged areas of Jakarta. In the PSKD vocational
\nschool in North Jakarta every single student is subsidized by
\nabout Rp 150,000 a month. We try to provide a PSKD school for any
\nfamily budget. In existence since 1942 and under different names
\nsince the late 19th century, the PSKD has become a Jakarta
\ninstitution. Nowadays nobody pays much attention or even knows
\nthat it is a Christian school. To many Jakartans, PSKD is no
\nlonger an acronym but just one word. Such public acceptance would
\nnot be possible if we played bribery games as Mr. Vargas implied.<\/p>\n
And the banner in front of the school that he labels as false
\nadvertising? Oh, don't read too much into it. It is just one of
\nthose Jakarta school traditions: at the beginning of the year you
\nput up a huge banner to cheer up the front yard and also to show
\noff -- the bigger and more eye-catching, the better.<\/p>\n
TOENGGOEL P. SIAGIAN<\/p>\n
Secretary of the Board<\/p>\n
and Executive Director<\/p>\n
PSKD, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-bribery-in-pskd-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }