Medan children forced to work to stay in school

Medan children forced to work to stay in school

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

While some children enjoy an education in which all expenses are
provided by their parents, other more unfortunate children have
to work just to stay in school.

For the past four years, junior high school student Edi
Situmorang has worked as a craftsman in the North Sumatra town of
Parapat to earn money to help finance his education.

The first year student at SMPN I Ambarita Junior High doesn't
have many options. Every day, after finishing school, he works
until late in the afternoon.

"My father is jobless and my mother earns money by selling
fruit. I feel sorry for them, that's why I work," the 13-year-old
Edi told The Jakarta Post while working.

The eldest of five children said his parents did not stop him
from working, although they did remind him to stay on at school.

"I've been working since I was in elementary school. My
parents are not against it, they just don't want me to forget my
study," said Edi, who pays for his own education with the money
he earns.

As a craftsman, his earnings depend much on whether his
creations, priced between Rp 50,000 (US$5.30) and Rp 1 million,
get sold. For each piece, it takes him three days or more to
complete.

"Sometimes, during my school examinations, it could take me a
week to finish a wooden handicraft item. But if there's plenty of
orders, a piece can be finished in three days," said Edi, who
learnt his skills from his uncle, who is also a craftsman in
Parapat.

Edi is not the only North Sumatran school-age child who has to
work hard to be able to stay in school. Many others have to work
as their parents cannot afford to keep them at school.

Another child, 12-year-old Ganda Hartono, also has to work
hard to be able to stay in school.

Every day, the first year student at a junior high school in
Parapat works on a ferry, which plies the route between Ajibata
in Parapat and Samosir Island, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On board the ferry he relies on his many skills -- from
singing to massaging -- to earn money.

But before the ferry leaves the harbor in Parapat, Ganda,
along with other children, will perform swimming feats at the
side of the ship, calling out to passengers to throw coins into
the sea so they compete to retrieve them.

Although he usually does not get much, perhaps five Rp 100
coins, Ganda is not discouraged. As soon as the ship is about to
leave, he and other children rush to get on board and once again,
they'll compete to search for passengers who may be in need of
their assistance.

Without any musical instrument, Ganda will sing for
passengers, or give them massages. From his work, he can bring
home Rp 100,000 a day.

"I use most of the money to pay for my school expenses and I
save the rest," said the boy who dreams of becoming a soldier
when he grows up.