Give more than just money to foster students: Forum
Give more than just money to foster students: Forum
JAKARTA (JP): Foster parents are being urged to pay more than
just school fees, considering the foster students' other needs,
including health care, books, stationary and transportation. They
are also being urged to pay attention to students' academic and
mental development rather than just providing them with money.
School fees at state elementary schools are Rp 7,000 a month,
however, various "extras" are also expected from students. These
include paying for a year-end picnic, scout activities and
English lessons as well as other extracurricular activities,
which could reach Rp 10,000 a month.
The call was made on Saturday by a nonprofit organization
called the Forum of Housewives' Struggle.
The forum's scholarship committee chairman, Ninuk S., said,
"Foster parents just pay the school fee to the principal, but
they never know anything about the students."
"Such a lack of concern will not encourage these less-
fortunate children to enjoy school and study harder," Ninuk said.
She added that the forum facilitates monthly meetings between
students and foster parents.
On Saturday, the group symbolically handed over scholarships
worth Rp 10 million to 100 students for one year. The
beneficiaries are students of several elementary to high schools,
mostly in Central Jakarta. Other schools are in Jelambar, West
Jakarta, and in Cilincing, North Jakarta.
SDN 03 Cikini vice principal, Sutarmo, said elementary
students get Rp 10,000 a month. A junior high school student said
she was entitled to Rp 17,000 a month.
The funds were from Bank Indonesia and other sources.
Since 1996, the government has encouraged participation in
foster parent programs, either through the official movement GN-
OTA or through private means. Ministers of education in the past
have said that ideally, foster parents should not only help with
school fees but also pay attention to students' development and
other needs.
Minimum donations to GN-OTA are suggested at Rp 60,000 per
year for elementary students and Rp 90,000 per year for junior
high students.
The forum, first set up in 1937, comprises some 300
descendants of women who were active during wartime, including
those in public kitchens and hospitals. It aims to raise public
awareness of the less fortunate in urban areas.
Since the crisis, the forum has also become involved in
handing out scholarships. (07)