Schools demand high fees from new students<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The enrollment of new students in junior high schools and high
\nschools across the city has been marred by the imposition of high
\nfees on would-be students.<\/p>\n
Waskita, not his real name, a civil servant, grumbled that his
\nnephew, who had applied for a state junior high school in South
\nJakarta, was asked to pay an enrollment fee of Rp 2 million
\n(US$243).<\/p>\n
\"It's really burdensome. But, of course, we have no choice but
\nto pay it if we want him to be accepted by the school,\" sighed
\nWaskita.<\/p>\n
Similarly, there have been reports that new students who want
\nto enroll in a popular state high school have to pay up to Rp 5
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
The principal of the SMU 70 state high school in Jakarta,
\nSuyanto, claimed that new students were expected to make the
\npayment voluntarily in accordance with their parents' financial
\nmeans.<\/p>\n
\"Last year, the contributions ranged from nothing up to Rp 3
\nmillion,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the high enrollment fees, the City Council
\nblasted the policy as being too burdensome on new students,
\nespecially those from the lower income bracket.<\/p>\n
\"There must be a policy setting a ceiling for the permissible
\nfees that may be imposed on new students seeking admission,\" said
\nSyamsidar Siregar, a member of the City Council's Commission E on
\neducational affairs.<\/p>\n
According to Syamsidar, who is also the secretary to the
\nJakarta chapter of the National Mandate Party (PAN), school
\nmanagement boards and parents' committees had the right to decide
\non the amount of fees, also often referred to as school
\n\"development charges.<\/p>\n
These charges must be paid by new students upon admission.<\/p>\n
\"However, they must not burden the students. That's why the
\nCity Elementary Education Agency and City Secondary Education
\nAgency must regulate and restrict the amounts involved,\" said
\nSyamsidar.<\/p>\n
The City Elementary Education Agency oversees state elementary
\nschools and junior high schools, while the City Secondary
\nEducation Agency is responsible for state high schools.<\/p>\n
Syamsidar vowed that the council would summon the directors of
\nthese agencies for a hearing before June 20.<\/p>\n
\"We will recommend ceilings for the fees imposed on new
\nstudents,\" said Syamsidar.<\/p>\n
In addition to the standard, Syamsidar said, the council would
\nrecommend that the agencies ensure transparency and
\naccountability in the use of the money collected from fees.<\/p>\n
Schools, especially state schools, Syamsidar asserted, must be
\naccessible to all students, including those who come from low-
\nincome families. Fees must not prevent poor students from
\nreceiving an education.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the director of the City Secondary Education
\nAgency, Sukesti Martono, played down the allegations that schools
\nwere imposing enrollment fees.<\/p>\n
\"There must be a misunderstanding. No enrollment fees are
\npermissible. But, the school is allowed to impose charges for the
\nschool's development on students who have definitely been
\nadmitted,\" said Sukesti.<\/p>\n
Sukesti claimed that the development funds allocated to state
\nschools were inadequate. \"If the school management wants to
\nprovide better service, they must look for additional sources of
\nincome to pay for the additional costs.\"<\/p>\n
However, Sukesti said that students who objected to paying
\nfees could report their objections to the school concerned or
\ndirectly to his office by calling (021) 5271424.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/schools-demand-high-fees-from-new-students-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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