'Enrollment fees now are pretty steep'
The fact that 16 percent out of a total of 131,151 high school students across the nation did not pass their final exams this year, has not discouraged students from continuing their studies at tertiary institutions. However, they lamented about the costly one-time enrollment fee for new students at both state-run and private universities, as they shared with The Jakarta Post.
Naning (not her real name), 18, is in her final year at a private high school in Radio Dalam, South Jakarta. She lives in the area with her family:
I will certainly continue my studies at university, even though I haven't passed my final exams yet.
Actually, I've already taken the entrance examinations at both a state-run and a private university.
I've even been accepted at Indonusa Esa Unggul university, a private university in West Jakarta, for a major in nutrition. I passed the entrance exam with an "A", and I've received a Rp 4 million scholarship -- the total enrollment fee is Rp 11 million. My parents have saved up the money, even though I'm uneasy about the high fee.
But the unexpected failure in my school final exams troubles me. Fortunately, the university has given me a chance to enroll after I've passed the second exam. I'm sure I'll succeed the second time.
It's really distressing, because I only failed in Math. I should have passed because my cumulative grade is 7.0. It's quite shocking and embarrassing, since I am one of the top three students in the school.
It's hard to accept the fact that many of my classmates, who have lower grades than me, passed the exams.
My parents and all my teachers could hardly believe that I didn't pass the finals.
Aveline, 18, is in her final year at a private high school in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, and has just passed her final exams. She lives in Pancoran, South Jakarta, with her family:
Of course, I plan to continue my studies at university.
I have taken the entrance exam at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) for a major in architecture. I like the field because I'm fond of drawing.
Plus, I can just imagine the brighter, future prospects of majoring in this field.
I have also taken an entrance exam for the same major at Tarumanegara private university in West Jakarta.
However, I'm a little worried if I'm accepted at ITB, a state- run institute, because of their exorbitant enrollment fee.
As far as I know, I have to have at least Rp 45 million to enroll at the institute as a new student. It is, of course, far more expensive compared to Tarumanegara, which charges less than Rp 20 million to enroll.
I don't know if my parents can afford the enrollment fee at ITB -- they've pushed me to try my luck at Tarumanegara.
My parents are open-minded and they aren't particularly focused on me studying at a state-run university. They've left me free to choose where I'll go, so long as I take responsibility for my decision.
As for the new final exam system, I don't really like it. Most of the students weren't prepared for the new system -- it's far from perfect -- and made us all panic on the day of the exam.
Fitri, 18, is a student at a private high school in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, and has just passed her exams. She lives nearby with her mother:
Honestly, now I'm confused about what to major in at university. I don't know whether or not I've chosen the right subject.
I took the entrance exams at the University of Indonesia and at Interstudy Institute in South Jakarta, for a major in Public Relations.
My friend told me that a degree in public relations would give me a broader career opportunity in the future. She said I could work in a hotel or a company, or become an event organizer. Sounds good, doesn't it?
But the university enrollment fee now is pretty steep. I don't feel good that my mother alone will pay the fee -- she's a widow.
My mother reassured me that she has saved about Rp 10 million for my university education.
She told me that it doesn't matter whether I go to a private or state-run university, as long as I study hard.
-- Leo Wahyudi S.