Grade school officials told no extra fees

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)