Parents refuse to pay school fees in U.S. currency

JAKARTA (JP): Parents who send their children to a Central Jakarta playgroup protested yesterday against the school's decision to double monthly fees and accept payment only in U.S. currency.

Twenty-five parents went to Sunshine Playgroup on Jl. Cempaka Putih Timur to demand the school's principal review the decision.

"We are all suffering from the monetary crisis. How come the school suddenly ups the fees and asks us to pay in American dollars?" one of the protesters, who asked for anonymity, told The Jakarta Post.

The private school, which uses English as its medium of communication, currently has about 50 students, mostly of Indian origin, he said.

According to the parents, the playgroup's principal Sony R. Vasandani announced the increase in a written notice without discussing the changes with them.

In her notice, Vasandani noted that the monthly fees had been set at US$125 instead of the previous rate of Rp 300,000 ($50), they said.

The school also announced that each student should pay $100 as an annual development fee, the Post's source said.

The principal also upped the school's admission fee to $350 (Rp 2.21 million), which represents a three-fold increase from the previous rate of Rp 500.000 per student, he said.

In her announcement, Vasandani outlined that the decision had been made due to the economic crisis and the development of several facilities at the school, the parents said.

The school, for example, is developing a mini swimming pool at the compound, they quoted Vasandani as saying.

In addition, students will be taught Indonesian as their second language as well as music and computer skills, they said.

But the parents were skeptical about the introduction of new facilities at the school.

"We do not condemn the decision (to increase fees). But it's too high. We also refuse to pay the fees in U.S. dollars."

If the principal insists that fees be paid in U.S. dollars, many parents would be forced to buy dollars, the source said.

"To me it shows a lack of patriotism."

He said that parents met with Vasandani yesterday and their discussion would continue tomorrow.

Vasandani could not be reached for comment yesterday.

"The principal has already gone home," Supreme, one of the school's staff, said. (jun)