Parents worried about education quality

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