High costs of education

High costs of education

From Bali Post

Most parents are awaiting the coming of the new school year
2003/2004 with apprehension. Why? Because, on the one hand, their
target is to have their children to be admitted to the favored
schools. On the other hand, their greatest concern is the high
cost they have to pay for it.

Let us use then our common sense in finding the best solution
to this problem, and restrain ourselves from blaming each other.

Paragraph 1, Article 31, Chapter XIII of our 1945 Constitution
stipulates that each citizen has the right to education.
Paragraph 2 says that each citizen is obliged to follow basic
education and the government is obliged to bear the expense of
such education. These two paragraphs clearly indicate that each
citizen has the right to enjoy both elementary and secondary
education, and the government has to bear the cost, regardless of
the amount of funds needed to accomplish that program.

However, on the other side of the coin, people should be
aware of the difficult situation the government is in, and thus
should be ready to actively participate in addressing the problem
of their children's education. The public and the government
should make a concerted effort to find the best solution to the
problem of the education of the young generation.

Unpopular decisions in the policy making process must be
strictly avoided. In other words, the people's genuine and
conscientious participation must be rightly accommodated and the
policy honestly implemented. Only then can we look forward to a
decent, well-behaved and highly-competitive society.

IDN SARJANA
Tabanan, Bali