'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."