Rp 1.3b allotted to cover school examination fees

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has allocated Rp 1.3 billion (US$132,000) to help cover costs for this year's state exams in public elementary schools in the capital.

It is still unclear whether private elementary school students here would also be exempted from the state exam costs.

The decision was taken after the central government suggested that elementary and junior highschool students be exempted from examination costs.

Acting Governor Djailani on Wednesday confirmed that the money would be taken from the 2001 City Budget.

"But the administration will only cover the exam fees for the public elementary schools, while junior high schools are under the central government's authority," Djailani told reporters after inaugurating a new book store owned by Pos Kota group in East Jakarta.

The Rp 1.3 billion is to help cover the estimated Rp 2.83 billion needed. The remaining funds are subsidized by central government.

He warned all public elementary schools in the capital against trying to extort such fees from students and urged school principals to return any money that may have been already collected.

Separately, City Secretary for administrative affairs Makmun Amin said the administration will ask for additional funds from the central government to free junior and senior high school students from paying state exam fees.

"The city needs some Rp 2.7 billion in total to cover all expenses related to the state tests for junior and senior high school students," said Makmun.

The expenses include printing and other costs related to marking examination papers.

According to official data there are a total of 141,511 students in public elementary schools due to sit the state exams scheduled to be held from June 11 until June 13, while some 141,160 students in public junior high schools will take their final exam in May.

There are 50,383 high school students in public schools due to take the tests also in May.

No data was immediately available on the number of students in private schools due to take the exam.

The fee for each elementary student taking the exam is set at Rp 20,000 (US$2.10). Last year it was set at Rp 18,200.

So far the decision concerning students in private elementary schools is that they would still be required to pay the state final exam fees.

City administration spokesman Muhayat told The Jakarta Post however that the administration would be ready to bear the costs in supporting these students if instructed by the central government.

"They will be exempted from the obligation to pay the state exam fees after the central government formally issues a decree," Muhayat remarked.

Separately, the head of the City Education Agency Masrul Nim said earlier that about 2,000 needy students from 15 elementary schools across the capital will receive scholarships amounting to Rp 860,000 each for the 2001/2002 school term.

Masrul said the policy was made in compliance with the government's program of compulsory education to cover all expenses for the needy.

Masrul said the funds include Rp 12,500 for monthly school tuition, a stipend for books and stationery, school uniform, a scouts uniform, a sports uniform, and a medical check up.

The selected students are between 7 to 15 years old. (04/07)