Parents hit pawnshop to get money for school

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

Prepared to part with their most valuable belongings, hundreds of people crowded the state-owned Bogor pawnshop on Wednesday.

Since 9 a.m., the residents, mostly women, had waited in the small office, holding cellular phones, household appliances, electronic goods and gold jewelry, in the hope of getting enough money to pay their children's school fees.

"I have to pawn my gold necklace and bracelet so my son can go to junior high school," said Asmiati, a resident of Ciomas district.

Asmiati left smiling, but others with bigger items to pawn, such as TV sets, were turned down as the pawnshop's storage room was under renovation.

Pawnshop manager Tutik Suwarni said the pawnshop had been overwhelmed with customers since earlier this month.

"They told us they need the money to pay for their children's schooling," she said on Wednesday.

Many parents are busy preparing their children for the start of the new academic year in August.

Tutik said that on average, about 135 Bogor residents pawned their possessions daily at the shop, but since July there had been over 200 customers a day.

"Usually people go home with Rp 1 million (US$108), but lately customers are hoping for between Rp 5 million and Rp 20 million, which is what they need for school fees," she added.

Tutik said she understood the situation parents were in and would disseminate information on what sort of possessions could be pawned.

"We don't accept just anything ... land is not on our list. But we do accept gold, ownership documents for private vehicles and certain electronic goods," she said.