Govt responsible for education

Govt responsible for education

From Koran Tempo

The high cost of education in Indonesia gives poor people no choice but to keep their children at home, as it is already difficult for them to meet their daily needs, even before considering school fees.

For kindergarten and elementary education, a student has to pay Rp 500,000 to Rp 1 million and for secondary and high school education above Rp 1 million. The high school charges are due to the government's school-based management policy, leaving everything to the relevant schools.

Consequently, only those with a lot of money can enjoy quality education. Why can't the government introduce a system of low- cost education of good quality as applied in other countries?

A good education is not cheap, in fact. But the point is that it is the government's obligation to guarantee the schooling of all citizens and good education for people on low incomes, in spite of the limited funds, which have always been used as an excuse.

YUNI SETYAWATI Bekasi, West Java