'Education is very expensive'

Education is essential for the young throughout the world. However, not every child gets the education he or she deserves due to the expense of tuition. Some parents shared their concerns with The Jakarta Post.

Nunung, 50, has to survive with nine children after her husband died last year. She lives in Palmerah, West Jakarta, and sells food at night.

"Education is very expensive for me because of the high tuition fees. But I have to live with it.

I feel burdened financially, particularly with my youngest son's education as he is now studying in the first grade of a state senior high school.

I have to spend Rp 50,000 (US$5.8) for his monthly tuition and Rp 120,000 for his transportation fares. In addition, I must also pay Rp 13,000 for his extra lessons per month and around Rp 48,000 as an allowance.

How can I earn such money if I'm jobless. I'm just afraid if my son quits his study and does something harmful.

I guess it's right to keep him on this track by supporting his study despite the financial burden. Otherwise, it will hamper his future.

It's hard, if I may say, to pay for education. But yet, that's the only way to value our children's lives, isn't it?"

Somad, 31, lives at Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, with his wife and five-year-old only daughter. He began selling siomay (Chinese dumplings) two years ago after had learned the business from his brother.

"Education for me is very important because it will make our younger generation better and brighter.

Despite the fact that I'm just a vendor, I have a dream that someday I will see my child much happier than her parents.

Education is a long lasting saving that will bring good fortune for my child. So, I prefer to make sacrifices to raise my daughter for her future, not mine.

I'm fully aware that the tuition is not affordable for people like me. But I'm quite sure that somehow my daughter will get her education.

I believe the higher the education my daughter gets, the easier for her to get a better job in the future."

Aik, 37, has been working as a scavenger for 20 years. He lives in Kemandoran, South Jakarta, with his fellow scavengers. Twice a month he brings money to his wife and five children who live in Bekasi.

"Talking education for me is a grievance on how to pay the tuition for my children. For the rich, Rp 20,000 a month is peanuts but for me it's the difference between life and death. Thank God, I still have the strength to support my family and provide education for my children.

I'm quite happy to send them to schools in the rural areas as I see the good relationship between students and teachers. They still pay respect to their teachers.

Compared to schools in Jakarta, I have seen students disrespect the teachers. Sometimes they even become involved in brutal brawls.

Should decent manners be taught both by parents and teachers, perhaps the student brawls will die down." -- JP