'Schools sucking us dry with demands'<\/p>\n
Everyone knows that a good education is the best guarantee for a
\nsuccessful and happy life, but many parents here in Jakarta are
\nfinding it difficult, if not impossible, to finance their
\nchildren's education and send them into the future armed with a
\ndegree. Both private and state schools, from kindergarten on up
\nto university, impose fees on students, which they call
\n\"donations\", leaving parents scrambling to raise the needed cash.
\nThe Jakarta Post spoke with a few of these disgruntled parents.<\/p>\n
Atik, 39, works at a multinational company in Tangerang,
\nBanten. She lives in Tangerang with her husband and son:<\/p>\n
My son is starting elementary school and during the enrollment
\nprocess, the school told me the \"donation\" ranged from Rp 1.9
\nmillion to Rp 3.8 million.<\/p>\n
After some tough negotiations, the school agreed that I would
\npay a donation of only Rp 1.8 million and Rp 125,000 in monthly
\ntuition.<\/p>\n
However, the school warned me not to tell other parents about
\nthe deal or the school wouldn't be able to reach its revenue
\ntarget.<\/p>\n
I had to be stubborn in the negotiations because it is
\ncommonly believed that a family with one child should pay more
\nthan families with more than one child.<\/p>\n
Educational institutions tend to exploit would-be students
\nfinancially for their own benefit. Business is the utmost
\nconsideration, if I may say so.<\/p>\n
Karno, 40, is a motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver in
\nCentral Jakarta. He lives in Palmerah, West Jakarta, with his
\nwife and three children:<\/p>\n
I get a headache whenever I think about having to pay for my
\nson's education.<\/p>\n
It's just crazy, the school asked for about Rp 2 million for
\nthe enrollment fee. It's hard to believe because the school is a
\nstate-run high school.<\/p>\n
My wife is still negotiating with the school about the amount
\nof the \"donation\", which excludes school uniforms and the monthly
\ntuition.<\/p>\n
I guess my son will have to struggle with his brain while his
\nparents struggle with money.<\/p>\n
It's hard just getting by every day, so forget about raising
\nso much cash in a very short time. It's ridiculous how expensive
\nit is now just to get a seat in a school.<\/p>\n
I don't know how I will get the money if the negotiations
\nfail. It would be a pity if my son couldn't go to school this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
What I need to do is win the local lottery that I play every
\nday. That's the only way I'll be able to raise so much money.<\/p>\n
Anthoni, 42, was recently laid off from the supermarket he
\nworked at in Central Jakarta. He lives in Bekasi with his wife
\nand three children:<\/p>\n
School enrollment fees are very expensive now and not all
\nparents can afford them. Educational institutions are no longer
\nknowledge-oriented but business-oriented.<\/p>\n
It seems that education now is only for those who have a lot
\nof money to buy a seat at a school.<\/p>\n
Two of my children just graduated from junior high school and
\nhigh school. I had to tell my eldest son he could not continue
\nhis education at university because we don't have the money.<\/p>\n
I don't think I can afford the Rp 20 million he would need,
\nespecially since I was fired this month from my company.<\/p>\n
My son was willing to suspend his education. He wants to work
\nwhile taking some courses this year.<\/p>\n
Now I have to register my second child in a private high
\nschool, which will cost me about Rp 2.7 million for the
\nenrollment fee and Rp 200,000 for the monthly tuition.<\/p>\n
The fee is not negotiable and I have to pay it in cash,
\notherwise he will not be able to continue his education.<\/p>\n
Judging from the school's alumni and its reputation, I think
\nit is a reliable school regardless of the high fees.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/schools-sucking-us-dry-with-demands-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }