Open government schools give education to the poor

Open government schools give education to the poor

JAKARTA (JP): The prolonged monetary crisis has resulted in an
alarming number of school dropouts. Records from the Ministry of
National Education show that some six million children have not
continued their education beyond elementary school.

This number does not include thousands of school-aged children
who live in refugee camps as a result of natural disaster or
social unrest.

As a result, the compulsory education program, that was only
extended from six to nine years in 1994, is completely
ineffectual.

In an effort to salvage Indonesia's youth amid these
inescapable realities, the government recently "relaunched" the
Open Junior High School (SLTP Terbuka) program for elementary
school graduates aged 11 to 18.

The program provides free education for children of poor
families, refugees and school-aged children outside the regular
education system due to geographical problems so they can
complete the nine year compulsory education program consisting of
six years of elementary school and three years of junior high
school.

It uses the same curriculum and assessment criteria as regular
schools, but utilizes the methodology of distance and independent
learning.

The learning activities can be conducted anywhere, from a
village chief's office to a rice field. They are supervised by
tutors hired by the ministry.

Classes last only four hours a day so students can still help
their parents earn money.

The primary learning materials are especially designed self-
instructional modules subordinate to a 'mother' school or
appointed regular junior high school.

"This system encourage students to be independent," said the
Director General of Elementary and Secondary Education Indra
Djati Sidi recently.

Once a week, the students attend the mother school to discuss
the materials and to use the school's laboratory, library and
other facilities.

Student academic achievements are evaluated by teachers from
the mother school with individual reports prepared at the end of
each semester.

Those who pass the final examination at the end of the ninth
semester are awarded junior high school (SLTP) diplomas
equivalent to those who attend regular classes.

Since it was introduced in 1979 the program is now practiced
in all parts of the country.

There are an estimated 400,000 students enrolled in 3,483 open
schools.

The ministry feels that more effort should be made to promote
the program, especially under the current socioeconomic climate.

"We have to give the unfortunate children the same opportunity
to get an education. Therefore, we call on more students to
enroll into the school," Minister Yahya Muhaimin said.

However, according to Indra, there are worries regarding
finance and management when regional autonomy is imposed next
year.

"We're still discussing with the Ministry of Finance whether
the program will be financed and managed by the central
government or regional governments," Indra said.

Motivated

In Jakarta, there are 33 open schools, of which three are
financed by the City Administration.

According to an organizer of an open school in Koja, North
Jakarta, Morgan Napitupulu, the students are very motivated and
independent.

"We have some 234 students and they're not really behind their
peers in regular school," he said, adding that there are four
regular junior high schools that rank below his school.

"Maybe because the children are really eager to learn, they
don't take it for granted," he said.

The drop out rate remains high though, about 30 percent before
the end of three-years. Some of students left to get married,
others moved away.

"Many poor families are not permanent residents. That's why
sometimes they just disappear," Morgan said.

But many stay until graduation, like Ami, 15, a second grader
at SLTP 30 in South Jakarta.

She works at her neighbor's house peeling shrimp and earning
some Rp 7,000 to Rp 15,000 ($1.70) a week, depending on how many
shrimps she peels.

As much as she wanted to continue her education after
graduating from elementary school three years ago, her father, a
fisherman, could not afford it.

"But then I heard about the open school from my friends and
enrolled there," she said, adding that she enjoys school very
much, especially Bahasa Indonesia.

Morgan said that it is a pity that open senior high schools
have yet to be established and graduates are unable to continue
their education.

"They're highly qualified, you know, but right now only 35
percent of the graduates can continue to senior high school,"
Morgan said.

According to Indra, though, there are plans to establish an
open senior high school. Not surprisingly, it is unlikely to be
realized anytime soon due to budget constraints. (hdn)