'I think money is not the issue'

The Jakarta administration plans to allocate more money for education in the city and provide free education for all elementary and junior high school students. The Jakarta Post talked to some young people about the issue.

Rizky Kusuma Dewi Ntoma, 24, works for a foreign embassy in the Wisma BRI II tower on Jl. Jend. Sudirman in Central Jakarta. She resides with her family in Bintaro, South Jakarta:

I think there should be a monitoring team set up to supervise the implementation of the policy. Otherwise, we will no doubt see irregularities and misfeasance involving the money. The team should comprise representatives of parents, educationalists, teachers and school authorities.

Why does the government not provide free education up to senior high school level as developed countries do? I don't think money is really the problem. Poor countries like India and Vietnam also provide free education and cheaper university fees.

Maria Margaretha Lisa Gunawan, 34, works for a finance firm in the Jakarta Stock Exchange building on Jl. Jend. Sudirman in Central Jakarta. The mother of a two-year-old baby boy, she lives in Rawabunga, Jatinegara, East Jakarta:

I welcome the decision. At least, I won't have to spend lots of money on my son's education if the administration covers the cost.

But, personally, I don't think the scheme will really work. Learning from past experience, we may see the school authorities inflate their costs and pass the additional charges on to the students' parents. In the end, all the talk of free this and free that turns out to be mere hot air.

Indonesia needs to cut unnecessary spending and eradicate corruption in the administration first before pressing ahead with free education.

-- The Jakarta Post.