'Universities should not only be for rich people'<\/p>\n
High school graduates wanting to continue on to university
\nhave just registered for admittance. Many people interviewed by
\nThe Jakarta Post consider university tuition fees too steep for
\nthem at a time when they are still trying to cope with the
\nrecession.<\/p>\n
Gunawan Wibisono, 41, is a photographer for the public
\nrelations department at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII). He has
\ntwo children, one in junior high school and one in high school.
\nHe lives in Bambu Apus subdistrict, Cipayung district, East
\nJakarta. He has lived in Jakarta since 1984.<\/p>\n
One of my children is in third year at high school. I'd like
\nhim to go to university next year, but because university tuition
\nfees are very expensive, I do not know whether I can afford it.
\nHow can I save millions of rupiah to pay for the so-called
\nbuilding money, desk money and other fees?.<\/p>\n
I wish the government would pay serious attention to
\neducation, particularly for low-income families whose children
\nhave good grades. The government should subsidize them. If not,
\nuniversities will be only for rich people.<\/p>\n
Sitiawati, is deputy chairman of the Bandar Jaya Foundation,
\nwhich focuses on heritage sites in the capital. She lives at
\nTaman Villa Meruya, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Education is indeed expensive, which is understandable as long
\nas schools maintain high standards. Teachers should be paid well
\nso that they can concentrate on their job. Education of poor
\npeople is the responsibility of the government.<\/p>\n
I don't believe the government or the city administration has
\nno money for an education subsidy for poor people. If the city
\nadministration can renovate the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle
\nfor billions of rupiah, it should be able to subsidize education
\nfor the poor.<\/p>\n
What I don't understand is why the city administration spends
\nlots of money for unimportant things and ignores urgent things
\nlike education. Although it sounds like a cliche, I still say
\nthat preparing the young generation with a good education is the
\nmost urgent thing in any nation.<\/p>\n
As we know many teenagers sing on city buses. This isn't
\nbecause they don't deserve to receiving an education, but because
\nthey have don't have the opportunity.<\/p>\n
Suyoto, an employee of a private company who lives at Pondok
\nAren, Tangerang. His eldest son took an entrance test at a
\nJakarta university recently. He is now scrapping together at
\nleast Rp 6 million to pay for the tuition.<\/p>\n
Frankly speaking, I cannot deny that higher education now
\ncosts a fortune. It's very expensive for a father from the lower-
\nmiddle class group like me. But that's life.<\/p>\n
In this respect, I'm not talking about loss and gain. It is
\nthe parents' responsibility to put their children through school
\ndespite financial difficulties. Education undoubtedly is a life-
\nlong investment.<\/p>\n
But I disagree with public opinion that an expensive college
\nis always good, or less reputable universities lack quality.
\nEducation cannot be measured by the physical benchmark alone, but
\nrather the student's ability to adapt and learn the subjects.<\/p>\n
So, I'm allowing my son the freedom to choose what he thinks
\nbest suits his capabilities. I will just encourage him to be
\nresponsible for his decision.<\/p>\n
Rosmayanti, 47, a mother of three children. Her daughter has
\nsecured a place in the law school at the University of Sam
\nRatulangi in Manado, North Sulawesi, through a special program.<\/p>\n
Thank God my daughter has secured a place at a state
\nuniversity. State universities offer a relatively qualified
\neducation at an affordable price.<\/p>\n
I paid Rp 5 million for the initial fees for a new student,
\nincluding the education fee of some Rp 600,000 for the first
\nsemester, for uniforms and several programs for newcomers. My
\ndaughter is supposed to pay more for the development fee.<\/p>\n
It is still affordable for my family, although it's relatively
\nexpensive for some people. However, I don't think I could send my
\ndaughter to a reputable private university if she was not
\naccepted at a state university.<\/p>\n
The fee of a reputable law school at a private university here
\nreaches Rp 1 million per semester and is subject to fees for
\nexams. It would be too expensive for our family as we have to
\nfinance two university students, while my youngest child will
\ngraduate from high school in two years.<\/p>",
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