'I work hard to send them to school'

'I work hard to send them to school'

Many parents try and send their children to the best schools they
can afford to provide them with a good education. However, many
more find supporting their children's education a terrible burden
because of expensive tuition and a drawn-out, confusing
enrollment process. The Jakarta Post asked some parents about
their experiences and views.

Suhati, 36, is a sports education teacher at a state junior
high school in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. She lives with her
husband and two children in Bojong Gede, Bogor, West Java:

The quality of education has declined. This is apparent in the
lack of creativity among children. Their interest in reading is
far below that in playing on the computer, playing video games or
surfing the Internet. Maybe this has something to do with the
development of media. The programs on TV are becoming more
interesting these days.

The state elementary school near my house accepts students
without considering classroom conditions, and their students have
shorter school days. Seeing that, I sent my children to a private
school, although it is more expensive. But I feel that they learn
more, as they study from morning to afternoon.

To cover their admission fees, I took out education insurance
when they were born. It may not amount to much for some, but for
me, it's sufficient.

Aside from school, they also take extracurricular lessons,
such as English and religion. They should not play too much. They
face more challenges now, so they must have extra support
wherever possible.

Sriati, 36, is a vegetable seller at a street market on Jl.
Perdatam, South Jakarta. She lives nearby with her husband, two
children and her mother:

I sell vegetables in the morning and run a laundry service in
the afternoon. I work hard so we can afford to send the children
to school, as we can't depend on my husband's meager earnings as
a construction worker.

My eldest will enter the fifth grade, and I want to buy him a
new school uniform. The littlest one is now five years old. Most
children of her age went to kindergarten, but I can't afford it.
So she has to wait until she is old enough to start elementary
school.

It is hard to make ends meet nowadays, but the children have
to get the education they need -- for as long as I can afford it.

-- The Jakarta Post