'Quality education comes at a price'<\/p>\n
Many people have criticized the government for neglecting
\neducation and it has yet to meet its lofty target of allocating
\n20 percent of the national budget to education. The government
\nhas said 2009 would be the earliest year it could increase the
\nallocation to the 22.5 percent maximum from the current 3.49
\npercent. The Jakarta Post asked some Jakartans how they dealt
\nwith providing proper education for their children.<\/p>\n
Lidia Hasyim, 34, is a housewife who lives with her family in
\nCinere in Depok. Her sons are 11 and 6 and both go to a private
\nschool in Parung, Bogor:<\/p>\n
Schools are expensive. My children go to a school where we
\nhave to pay six years in advance. The one-time payment covers
\ntheir text books, notebooks, stationery, field trips, extra-
\ncurricular activities -- everything.<\/p>\n
Sure it's more expensive up front, but then I don't have to
\nworry about their education for six years. And when I calculate
\nthe figure, it's the same as in other schools.<\/p>\n
The text books are not given to the students. I think this is
\na better system. What's the use of buying books when we must buy
\nnew ones with each curriculum? With each new minister?<\/p>\n
The school recently offered me a 30 percent discount on the
\ncurrent fees if I paid my children's fees until they finish high
\nschool. Maybe the school needs fresh cash for its development. I
\nthink this is good, sort of like buying insurance. At least I
\nwon't be surprised with higher prices later on.<\/p>\n
Frieda Mangunsong, 50, is a lecturer in the school of
\npsychology at the University of Indonesia. She lives with her
\nfamily in South Petukangan, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
My second son is entering university this year and my youngest
\ndaughter is going to junior high school. Every time any of my
\nchildren move to another level, we always try to admit them to
\ntwo schools, a private school and a state one.<\/p>\n
What's nice about private schools is the admission process is
\nfinished early, before the holidays. When my children are
\naccepted in a private school, we feel safe, and can enjoy the
\nholiday.<\/p>\n
If they then want to try to get into a state school, they are
\nallowed to, as long as it's a top one. We have to be more
\nselective with state schools.<\/p>\n
State schools may look cheaper at first, but then inside we
\nfind practices such as buying grades and that kind of thing.<\/p>\n
Quality runs parallel with cost. We cannot expect good quality
\nto come cheaply. When teachers' welfare is low, such as now,
\nthere will be a psycho-social effect. To improve state schools,
\nwe have to increase teachers' salaries.<\/p>\n
--The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/quality-education-comes-at-a-price-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }