Parents complain over school's fees

JAKARTA: Some 20 parents visited City Hall on Monday, complaining that their applications to register their children at a state elementary school in their neighborhood in South Jakarta were rejected as they were unable to afford an entrance fee of between Rp 2 million (US$200) and Rp 3 million.

The parents said the principal of SDN 10 Pesanggrahan preferred to accept students who lived far from the school whose parents could afford to pay the "entrance fee".

Deputy governor for social welfare affairs Djailani who met the protesters, promised to take stern action against the school principal.

Meanwhile, Arif Budihardjo, a senior teacher at the school, admitted that the school, which is one of the best state schools in the city, required parents to pay Rp 1 million each.

Some parents give more as "a token of gratitude" Arif said, adding that the teachers received Rp 300,000 each from the entrance fee.--JP