School sells book to students<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
A circular distributed by a teachers' cooperative at state-run
\njunior high school SLTPN 139 in Klender, East Jakarta, has given
\nan added burden to parents, who are still nursing their headache
\nafter the school increased its monthly fees without consulting
\nthem.<\/p>\n
The circular, dated June 16, notifies them of books that will
\nbe used by second and third year students, with a note
\ninstructing parents to buy the books at the cooperative on
\nSaturday, the day parents collect the students' school report.<\/p>\n
The package for second-year students is priced at Rp 315,200
\n(US$38), while the package for the third year is Rp 235,500. The
\ncircular is signed by headmaster Parmudji and the cooperative
\nchairman Sukimin.<\/p>\n
Parmudji, however, denied that students were obliged to buy
\nthe books although he failed to explain why the school didn't
\nobtain the school committee's consent beforehand.<\/p>\n
\"I guarantee the books are cheaper in the cooperative,\" he
\ntold reporters on Friday, adding that the publisher Yudisthira
\nhad discounted the book prices for the school.<\/p>\n
He also explained that the school didn't invite parents for a
\nmeeting before increasing the school fees from the previous Rp
\n45,000 per month to Rp 60,000 because \"we don't have a room big
\nenough to accommodate all the parents of our students\".<\/p>\n
Parmudji said half of the fees would go to the school
\ncommittee and would be used to subsidize about 100 students who
\ncome from poor families.<\/p>\n
As much as Rp 15,000 is allotted to finance the students'
\nextracurricular activities, Rp 10,000 for computer lessons, and
\nthe remaining Rp 5,000 for evaluating the students, he said.<\/p>\n
Syamsidar Siregar, City Council member from Commission C who
\nalso oversees education, said that the school should not sell
\nbooks to students.<\/p>\n
But not all schools in the city have such a practice. Some
\neven lend textbooks to the students for free.<\/p>\n
Ari, a second year student of state junior high school 49 in
\nKramat Jati, East Jakarta, said that her school never obliged its
\nstudents to purchase the textbooks at school. She preferred to
\npurchase the books at school to save time. But she did not
\ncompare prices with those sold at bookstores.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Rasyidi, 30, whose daughter is studying at a state
\njunior high school in Bekasi, said his daughter often purchased
\nbooks at the school, as well as bookstores.<\/p>\n
\"Some of the books sold at school are more expensive, while
\nothers are cheaper,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rasyid also said that his son, who was studying at another
\nstate junior high school in Bekasi, borrowed textbooks from the
\nschool, which provided them for free.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/school-sells-book-to-students-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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