'I think money is not the issue'

'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.