Drop out rate high in W. Java schools

Drop out rate high in W. Java schools

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Kuningan

Financial hardship could force over 16,000 elementary school
students in the West Java towns of Kuningan and Cirebon to drop
out of school this year, officials say.

Head of Kuningan's education office Momon Rochmana said on
Tuesday that at least 6,000 of 60,000 elementary school students
in Kuningan -- which has 376 schools in 32 districts -- would
discontinue their studies this year.

In Cirebon municipality, 10,073 elementary school students
from low-income families have said they will probably not attend
high school.

However, Momon said the figures were preliminary as his office
was in the process of compiling a list of children whose parents
were in difficult circumstances.

"We don't want them to be excluded from school. We have listed
6,000 students who cannot attend high school. (Once we complete
the list) that number could increase," said Momon.

He said the Kuningan administration planned to issue cards
that exempted poor students from paying fees. The program, funded
by the West Java administration, will start in the new school
year.

Kuningan Regent Aang Hamid Suganda said the financial
assistance amounted to some Rp 3.4 billion.

However, Hamid said, only 3,400 elementary school students
would receive assistance through the project.

Under the program, each student will be granted assistance
worth Rp 1 million per year in the form of textbooks, paper and
pens, transport money, school uniforms and shoes. It will also
cover their monthly tuition fees.

Aang said the money would be managed by district heads to
ensure it reached its target.

"The intention is to cut red tape and to ensure the students
who need it most are assisted. District heads will work closely
with subdistrict heads," he said.

The regent said his administration was working on how to
assist the 2,400-plus students who would not receive help through
the program, including allocating Rp 400 million from the
regency's budget.

Only the amount, he said, was not enough to cover their
overall needs of around Rp 2.4 billion.

"We'll also ask businesspeople, public figures and the wealthy
to help those poor students. I hope the call is responded to
positively," Aang said.

The deputy mayor of Cirebon, Agus Al Wafier, however, was not
certain how poor students in the municipality would be helped to
attend high school.

"We are trying to solve the problem by looking for financial
sources, including the money saved from slashing the fuel
subsidy," Agus said.