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.