'Education is a national investment'

The city administration is giving more money to state elementary and junior high schools as part of its drive to provide free education for all children. Some of the more popular state schools, however, are less than impressed by the effort, saying they require more money and will continue to collect fees from students. The Jakarta Post spoke with residents about the issue.

Aldhy Setiadi, 31, works in the IT department of a textile firm in Central Jakarta. He lives with his six-year-old son in Bintaro, Tangerang.

It would be great if true, after all I have a son and I know how expensive education is. But from my experience, there are no freebies. My son's school says it will not charge students any extra fees, beyond the compulsory registration fee, but then they make students pay for the use of the air conditioners and for different school activities.

But I hope that when the administration says "free schooling", it really means free. This initiative is aimed at the poor, right, so even schoolbooks and uniforms should be free.

The government should look at education as an investment, so it doesn't really lose anything by providing free education.

Diah Mitawati, 32, is a member of the editorial staff of a publication in South Jakarta. She lives in Meruya Ilir, West Jakarta, and has a two-month-old son.

I agree that education should be free at state schools, because really the price of education has become unbelievably high.

My baby is only two months old but I've already started saving for his education, but with the prices of everything else rising, I don't know how much I will be able to save.

I don't assume everything will be free. I understand if parents still have to pay an entrance fee and re-registration fee. I just hope that schools do not try to make up for the other fees they can no longer collect by charging higher entrance fees.

And what about quality? If getting rid of fees also means lower quality teachers, then it would be better to keep charging the fees. Just not as high, that's all.

-- The Jakarta Post