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.