Kediri students boycott classes

Kediri students boycott classes

KEDIRI, East Java: At least 1,200 students of MAN 3 Islamic
high school in Kediri boycotted classes on Tuesday to express
their dissatisfaction with the management of the school's
finances by principal Ismudji.

Head of the student association, M. Ali Zuhadi, questioned the
whereabouts of Rp 875 million (US$94,086) in financial assistance
from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

"The amount excludes donations from the students' parents
which might reach another Rp 200 million," he said.

Each student has to pay various fees, including a "donation"
of between Rp 350,000 and Rp 500,000, a school sanitation fee of
Rp 57,000 and a tuition fee of Rp 40,000 per month.

Each new male student has to pay Rp 944,000, while female
students pay Rp 997,000.

The school principal, Ismudji, said he would hold a dialog
with the students on Saturday. He also asserted that the
financial assistance from the ministry was not given in the form
of cash.

"The assistance was in the form of new classrooms and a
laboratory. The students got it wrong," he said. -- Antara