Grade school officials told no extra fees

JAKARTA (JP): State elementary schools in Jakarta are not allowed to charge new students for uniforms or books, an official says.

The head of the city education agency, Suparmo, said yesterday that each school is allowed to charge new students only Rp 1,750 (US$ 76 cents) in admission fees.

"Headmasters or teachers are not allowed to require students to pay for uniforms or books. I will take firm action against unscrupulous school principals who charge new students these fees," he said. He made the proviso that additional charges are permissible with the approval of the parent-teacher association.

Every year many parents complain they are forced by school principals to pay additional fees when they enroll their children.

These demands by school principals flout the government's policy on compulsory education which exempts students of state elementary and junior high schools from all tuition fees.

Suparmo said that any proposed fees must be discussed with the parent-teacher association.

If the association refuses to approve the additional fees, the school principals must abide by the association's decision, he said. "Let the students buy their own uniforms."

However, Suparmo said, if the association does agree to charging new students such fees, the school must grant poorer families exemptions.

Suparmo said that more than a million children will enroll for the first grade of elementary school in the upcoming student year at Jakarta's 2,601 state schools. Registration will end by the end of this month, while the new academic year will start next month. (yns)