A headache for parents

A headache for parents

From Pikiran Rakyat

It has become customary now for teachers to engage themselves
in business activities, particularly at the beginning of the
academic year or the school's four-month shift. They usually
"forcefully" sell a stack of school textbooks above the normal
price. This is, of course, a headache for parents.

I saw a mother sobbing in total confusion while coming out of
a school gate of an elementary school in Cibeuning district,
Bandung. The school teacher had summoned her and urged her to
immediately pay for the books. Besides that, she had to pay an
outstanding school fee for two months.

It should be noted that not all parents are financially
capable of paying for school expenses for their kids, especially
during this crisis.

I am also perplexed by the fact that a TV broadcast indicated
that school enrollment was free of charge, but that is not the
case in reality. It costs parents a lot to get their kids
admitted to school. I therefore would like to call on authorities
and education institutions to listen to the cries of people who
are financially strapped. My suggestion to elementary school
teachers is why not provide pupils with book packages?

CAHYANI

Bandung, West Java