'Free final examination? It's only a rumor'

'Free final examination? It's only a rumor'

Junior high school and high school students in the city recently
finished taking final exams. And for the first time, the city
administration provided funds to finance the exams, so the
students would not have to pay for the tests themselves.
Unfortunately, the money arrived late, something to do with the
fact that the city began distributing the funds on June 4, the
day after high school students began taking the tests.

Alma M. Roestam, a mother of two who lives in Sunter, North
Jakarta. Her daughter is a student at a state high school and her
son attends a private junior high school.

"At the beginning of the academic term, I paid Rp 3 million
for my son. It covered everything, from the tuition to the exam
fees.

I've heard that schools aren't supposed to charge students any
examination fees. But that is only a rumor, as I have to pay for
my children's examinations each year.

Last month, I had to pay some Rp 200,000 for my daughter's
various school activities, including her examination. My daughter
is a student at a state school.

I don't mind paying because the teachers said the
administration had not disbursed the funds (for the exams). I
believe them. But what happens to other parents who can't afford
the fee?

My next question is to the administration: What do you do with
the funds that are supposed to go to the students each year?"

Yenny, 50, is a Jakarta-born housewife whose husband earns a
living performing odd jobs. She resides in the Tytyan Indah
housing complex in Bekasi. Her son is in his final year at a
state high school.

"I was relieved to hear my son's final exam would be free
thanks to financial support from the government. I had been so
worried that I wouldn't be able to pay the fee.

But, to my surprise, the school charged students Rp 100,000,
which they claimed was for 'administrative matters', including
issuing diplomas. My son won't get the diploma until he pays.

He also asked for Rp 250,000 to take part in a trip to Bali
organized by the school, but we can't afford it."

Diah Restu Satyawati, 39, a mother of three, she lives in
Bekasi. Her oldest son recently took final exams at his junior
high school. She works as a public relations officer at a private
company in Jakarta.

"Luckily, paying for my son's education is not a burden for
me, especially this latest issue of additional charges for the
final exams.

The school just asked for the monthly tuition of Rp 130,000
before the final examination.

Personally, I would complain if the school asked for money
without explaining what it was to be used for.

If it is a school regulation, I would pay regardless of the
amount. On the other hand, I would not pay even the smallest
amount of money if the reasons for the payment were not clear.

Wasilah Sutrisno, the chairwoman of the City Council's
Commission E for social affairs, representing the National
Mandate Party (PAN):

"The city administration should take stern action against
schools who require students to pay exam fees, since the exams
were financed by the administration.

The administration allocated more than Rp 10 billion for
school exams this year. It decided that students in elementary,
junior high and high schools should be freed from having to pay
exam fees.

The principals of schools who are found asking for exam fees
should be punished, such as being transferred to another school.

And we would summon executives of the City Education Agency
and ask them to pay serious attention to the matter."