Parents worried about education quality

The quality of education their children are receiving in the city's schools has become a great concern for parents. Giving weight to their worries, numerous international studies have found that Indonesia lags behind most other Asian countries when it comes to education. Several parents share their opinions with The Jakarta Post.

Wahyul Ikhsani, 37, has four children, two of whom attend state elementary schools. He works as an engineer at a timber company on Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta.

I am very concerned by the continuing decline of our educational system. I believe there are many factors worsening the quality of education, particularly the quality of the teachers.

My daughter, who is now in the fourth grade, often tells me how her teacher gets angry when she asks questions. It's a serious problem. My daughter doesn't want to ask her teacher questions anymore, even if she doesn't understand the lesson. I am afraid this habit of silence will continue to the higher levels of education.

Another problem, particularly in junior high schools and high schools, is that many teachers are teaching at several different schools. They can't focus on their main jobs at the state-run schools.

We parents can't simply entrust the education of our children to teachers alone. The role of parents is much more important. My wife and I always watch how our children are doing in school. And we always tell them to read more.

Uni Upi, 45, has three children studying in kindergarten, elementary school and junior high school. She lives in Palmerah, Central Jakarta, and her husband works as a food vendor.

I don't know much about the quality of the educational system, but I always feel that I have to monitor my children's activities, even if I don't have a lot of free time.

It's necessary to always ask my children about their homework. And I always get angry whenever they don't do it.

I think the schools now ask for too much money from parents. To allow parents to see their children continue their education up to university, the government must make sure tuition is affordable.

Suwanto, 48, is a father of four. Two of his children are in elementary school and junior high school. Another has graduated from high school, and the eldest is at university. Suwanto, who makes a living selling watches and wallets, lives in Cipondoh, Tangerang.

I never thought about the quality of my children's education. It was more important for me to send them to school. Even though I am very busy, I still spend time seeing how they're doing in school. My wife and I often help the kids with their homework.

However, the expensive school tuitions give me a headache, particularly for my child in university. It's a great help that my daughter has a scholarship.

My son just finished high school. I hope he can continue his studies at university, get his diploma, but I don't know if I can afford it.

I hope all my children can continue their educations and go to university, even though I am only a high school graduate. -- JP