Parents storm school over sudden tuition fee hike

TANGERANG (JP): Over 150 students' parents stormed private Ricci II Catholic school on Jl. Utama II near Bintaro here on Saturday in protest of the school management's decision to raise tuition fees by up to 50 percent without consulting them.

The parents, most of whom were housewives, started arriving at the school compound, which houses elementary, junior and senior high schools, at 8 a.m., demanding a meeting with representatives of the school's foundation.

They held a noisy rally and unfurled posters which demanded, among other things, that the price increase be canceled, reduced prices for school uniforms and books, and the establishment of a parents and teachers body.

"If the government can revised its state budget downward, why must the school substantially raise its fees?" read one poster and "Ricci II craves money," read another.

"How can the school raise its fees by up to 50 percent at a time when the country's economy is practically grinding to a halt, when many parents have lost their jobs?" asked Indratmoko, one of the protesters.

At 10:30 a.m., the protesters were allowed to enter the school hall under the escort of a police officer, who was there to maintain security.

The protesters later held a free-speech forum, criticizing many of the school management's policies which, according to them, overburdened them. The free-speech forum stopped when the school foundation's chairman, Dr. Hubertus, arrived at 1:10 p.m. to discuss their complaints.

The parents became angry when, in response to their emotionally charged questions at the beginning of the discussion, Hubertus stated that he never dealt with questions voiced by patients of a psychiatric hospital.

The parents hysterically claimed they were "insane" because of the school's arbitrary policies.

The situation cooled down after one protester volunteered to become moderator in the discussion, after which both sides agreed to settle the dispute amicably.

The school management agreed to postpone the increase in tuition and to allow the establishment of a parents and teachers body to participate in any decision-making. (hhr)