Parents complain of illegal fees

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.