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