'Quality education comes at a price'

Many people have criticized the government for neglecting education and it has yet to meet its lofty target of allocating 20 percent of the national budget to education. The government has said 2009 would be the earliest year it could increase the allocation to the 22.5 percent maximum from the current 3.49 percent. The Jakarta Post asked some Jakartans how they dealt with providing proper education for their children.

Lidia Hasyim, 34, is a housewife who lives with her family in Cinere in Depok. Her sons are 11 and 6 and both go to a private school in Parung, Bogor:

Schools are expensive. My children go to a school where we have to pay six years in advance. The one-time payment covers their text books, notebooks, stationery, field trips, extra- curricular activities -- everything.

Sure it's more expensive up front, but then I don't have to worry about their education for six years. And when I calculate the figure, it's the same as in other schools.

The text books are not given to the students. I think this is a better system. What's the use of buying books when we must buy new ones with each curriculum? With each new minister?

The school recently offered me a 30 percent discount on the current fees if I paid my children's fees until they finish high school. Maybe the school needs fresh cash for its development. I think this is good, sort of like buying insurance. At least I won't be surprised with higher prices later on.

Frieda Mangunsong, 50, is a lecturer in the school of psychology at the University of Indonesia. She lives with her family in South Petukangan, South Jakarta:

My second son is entering university this year and my youngest daughter is going to junior high school. Every time any of my children move to another level, we always try to admit them to two schools, a private school and a state one.

What's nice about private schools is the admission process is finished early, before the holidays. When my children are accepted in a private school, we feel safe, and can enjoy the holiday.

If they then want to try to get into a state school, they are allowed to, as long as it's a top one. We have to be more selective with state schools.

State schools may look cheaper at first, but then inside we find practices such as buying grades and that kind of thing.

Quality runs parallel with cost. We cannot expect good quality to come cheaply. When teachers' welfare is low, such as now, there will be a psycho-social effect. To improve state schools, we have to increase teachers' salaries.

--The Jakarta Post