'Quality education still a dream'

Parents often complain about the costs of giving their children a quality eduction, especially the illegal fees schools often charge, while children of the very poor often miss out on schooling completely. Most point the finger at the central government, which they says lacks a serious resolve to provide education for the poor. The Jakarta Post asked residents for their thoughts on the issue.

Ilal, 32, is a small-scale second-hand motorcycle trader in Depok, West Java. He lives with his wife and two children, who are now studying at an elementary school in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta.

I don't think the government has ever been serious about giving us a good quality education system. If they are serious then they should spend more money fixing most schools in the country so that we could send our children to any school with cheap fees.

If I want my children to get a good education then I have to really choose, as there are only a few schools that have a good- quality curriculum and good teachers. This shows that the government has failed to provide cheap education for its citizens.

I believe that they are reluctant to spend more money to education because they tend to concentrate on tangible projects with tangible results such as toll roads, hotels, and banking recapitalization. Education is a long-term investment and the results will only be felt long after the present government steps down from power.

Rahma, 26, is a part-time teacher in a private school in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta. She lives with her parents in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta.

I think the quality of teachers and their welfare should be prioritized by the government as quality education is determined by teachers. I see that many teachers still lack knowledge and skills to present lessons to students.

Most of them can't teach well as they get very small salaries and they often work in other places or are too busy seeking additional income. I once saw a teacher working as an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver in the evening while teaching in the morning.

Unless the government allocates funds for teachers' welfare and training, good quality education in Indonesia will continue to be a dream. --The Jakarta Post