'Education is very expensive'

'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