Parents complain of illegal fees

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta

Susi Herawati filed a complaint with the City Council on Wednesday that a state elementary school in Warakas, North Jakarta, required her to pay Rp 200,000 (US$21.7) as a "guarantee" that her son would be admitted to the school.

"A teacher at the school told me to give the principal an envelope containing Rp 200,000 if I wanted my son to be admitted," she said, adding that she put Rp 100,000 in the envelope instead.

"Many parents took turns meeting the principal in his office during the registration period."

As her son was eventually admitted to the school, Susi still had to pay Rp 220,500 for books and Rp 250,000 for uniforms. The school required that all fees had to be paid before the new academic year started on July 19.

"I cannot imagine the burden experienced by other students' parents as many of them work as porters at Tanjung Priok Port and as street vendors," said Susi's husband Wiji.

Susi and Wiji's experience is an example of parents complaining about fees imposed by schools although the city administration has prohibited schools from charging parents before Aug. 6 for elementary schools and Aug. 21 for middle and high schools. The fees are supposed to be first agreed upon by parents and the school board.

A protest over exorbitant school fees was also launched by state high school students in West Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Wednesday in front of their school.

A student, who requested to remain anonymous, said each of them had to pay Rp 390,000 for a re-registration fee, Rp 35,000 for repainting of the school building and another Rp 300,000 for books.

"We have also received complaints from parents from other schools on the same issue," said councillor Syamsidar Siregar of Commission E on people's welfare and education after meeting with Susi and Wiji.

"The city education agencies must not only hand out a circular on book procurement. It must regulate all fees imposed on parents to avoid similar complaints about excessive fees that occur year after year during the school admission period," she added.

Syamsidar was referring to a circular issued by the city elementary education agency dated July 29. The circular prohibits schools from requiring students to purchase books from school cooperatives.

She suggested a meeting between school committees and the municipality-level education council six months before the new academic year starts.