Poor private schools likely to face difficult times

Poor private schools likely to face difficult times

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): Haryadi was unhappy when the government
announced two weeks ago the abolition of tuition fees at state
schools.

It is easy to understand his disappointment. His two children
are both studying at private schools.

"The government only helps students at state schools," sighed
the 43-year-old father.

But many other parents whose children go to state schools are
not that excited, either. Even though they won't have to pay
tuition fees, there are still other school expenses, mostly
collected through the parent-teacher body.

This body, which often makes decisions without members'
approval, sets fees not only for books and uniforms, but also
shoes, study tours and even school parties.

Many private schools apparently charge even higher fees.

For the new school year, which starts in July, Haryadi must
prepare at least Rp 4 million. This is quite a burden for
Haryadi, who works in a pharmacy and gets a Rp 750,000 monthly
salary. His wife runs a small shop in their Kebon Kacang, Central
Jakarta, house selling daily necessities.

His younger son has just been accepted in a junior high school
in Mangga Besar, West Jakarta, and Haryadi must pay Rp 3 million
for, among other things, the registration fee and entrance fee
(it is called a donation for the school's building), uniforms,
books and extracurricular activities.

The fee excludes the monthly tuition fee and a "voluntary
donation" made by parents.

For his other son, who will be in second grade in a senior
high school, Haryadi must set aside Rp 1 million for, among other
things, a reregistration fee, annual donation, books and
extracurricular activities. In addition, he must pay a Rp 25,000
monthly tuition fee and another Rp 15,000 as a voluntary
donation.

"I don't know where I can find that much money, but I have to
come up with it somehow," said Haryadi.

He could have saved money if he had sent his children to state
schools, which used to set comparatively low monthly tuition
fees. Some high schools even dispensed with tuition fees
altogether.

"My children's NEMs were low, so it was impossible for them to
be enrolled in state schools," he said helplessly.

NEM is Nilai Ebtanas Murni (final grade point average), which
is given for final school exam results.

Only those with high scores can be accepted at state schools
and popular private schools.

Data from 1997 by the Ministry of Education and Culture states
there are 3,347 primary schools in the city and 795 of them are
privately run. Out of 1,083 junior high schools, 801 are private,
while 357 out of 472 senior high schools are private.

Entrance fees for favorite private elementary schools can
reach Rp 24 million, while for high schools, parents must pay up
to Rp 32 million.

Some parents have no objections as long as they feel it pays.

"Both of my husband and I are working and we cannot look after
our children all the time. We want the best education for them
and best education is usually expensive," said Sri, a government
employee.

Even though private schools are relatively expensive, not all
provide good education.

Poor

There are also many schools which lack facilities and are in
poor condition.

The principal of a school located close to a slum area in
North Jakarta said it was badly in need of renovation. When it
rains, lessons are always disrupted, he said.

"Last year, flooding stopped the students from studying for
days," said Mahmud, principal of the junior high school.

"But, it's difficult to ask for more money from parents. I
don't want to upset the parents," Mahmud said.

Two-thirds of its 600 students come from the lower economic
levels, he said.

Now, 75 percent of the funds to finance the school's
activities are raised through monthly and annual fees collected
from students; the remaining 25 percent comes from the school's
foundation.

The monthly tuition fee ranges from Rp 10,000 to Rp 100,000.
Students in second and third grade must pay a Rp 500,000 annual
fee, which can be paid in four installments, if the parents have
a paper from their district head declaring they are not rich.

The school has yet to determine the entrance fee for new
students but last year it was set at Rp 1.5 million. Parents were
required to pay another Rp 500,000 for books, two sets of
uniforms and extracurricular activities.

"I really expect the government to pay attention to us private
schools. We are educating children here... and not all private
schools are rich," Mahmud said.

The Conference of Private Education chairman for the Jakarta
chapter, Toenggoel P. Siagian, also questioned the government's
decision to only help state schools.

"It raises an old question about segregation between private
and state school students. Isn't this time for reform? There's
supposed to be Indonesian students only," he said,

Siagian, who is also executive director of the Jakarta
Christian Schools Association said some poor private schools have
started to consider action necessary to cope with the problems.

"If worst comes to the worst, we have to think about reducing
school to five days a week by dropping unessential subjects...,"
he said.

Private schools cannot just raise their fees to meet the
present inflation rate, which is estimated at between 80 percent
and 90 percent. But, without raising fees, schools will not be
able to meet the increase of school expenses, he added.

"I guarantee you there will be a decrease in education quality
(if nothing is being done to help them)," he said.

It is obvious that private schools also need help. But the new
minister of education and culture, Juwono Sudarsono, has made it
clear that due to financial problems, the government cannot do
much.

"We are still waiting for an agreement between the government
and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as the government is
very dependent on the IMF," Juwono said.

The statement was made on June 10. And until now, no concrete
agreement has been made.