Scholarships provide relief for many poor students in Bogor

Scholarships provide relief for many poor students in Bogor

The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java

Paying her monthly tuition fees late is something that 10-year-
old Yola, a student of Cipaku I State Elementary School in Bogor,
West Java, has grown used to.

"I always feel embarrassed when my teacher reminds me I have
not paid my fees," said Yola, explaining both her father and
mother were jobless.

Her two elder sisters had to find jobs straight after
finishing elementary school to support the family and to pay her
school fees.

Yola said she pays Rp 7,000 for tuition and another Rp 3,000
for extracurricular activities monthly. On top of that, she has
to come up with around Rp 140,000 for books every year.

"Usually, I ask my teachers to give me more time," said Yola,
the third of six siblings.

Now, however, Yola can breathe a sigh of relief as PT Suryamas
Dutamakmur Tbk. -- the developer of the Ranca Maya Golf and
Country Estate in Bogor, West Java -- has granted scholarships to
Yola and 64 other students who attend state-owned elementary
schools around the estate.

They were selected by the Sampoerna Foundation -- which
Suryamas Dutamakmur asked to manage its scholarship funds --
based on, among other factors, the monthly income of their
parents, the number of children in the family and academic
performance. Only students with an average grade of seven qualify
for the scholarships.

"I can now pay my fees on time," the jubilant Yola said after
the presentation of the scholarships last Thursday.

The ceremony was attended by the management of the Sampoerna
Foundation, the management of Suryamas Dutamakmur, principals
from eight elementary schools around Ranca Maya and student
representatives.

The publicly listed firm also granted three-year scholarships
to 26 junior high school students around the estate.

Under the scholarship scheme, the 65 elementary students will
receive Rp 300,000 per semester, to be transferred directly to
their accounts at Bank Rakyat Indonesia.

Elementary students in the area spend between Rp 10,000 and Rp
20,000 a month on school fees, as well as over Rp 140,000 per
year on books.

PT Suryamas Dutamakmur Tbk President Director Kenneth Lian
said it was hoped, through the scholarships, that relations
between the estate people and local people would be harmonious.

"We hope the scholarships can help improve the quality of
education, which will in turn enhance the lives of people around
Ranca Maya," said Kenneth.

Meanwhile, principal Achmad Kholik said the scholarships would
help students to continue their studies until 2007.

"The scholarships are very helpful and will motivate the
students to continue their studies at least to finish their basic
education," he said.

He expressed hope that the company would provide more
scholarships for students in the area in the future.

"Hopefully, the number of scholarships will be higher as many
more students are in need of help," said the principal of Ciawi
III state-owned elementary school, which has 588 students at
present.

As of March 2005, the Sampoerna Foundation has provided
scholarships to 1,000 junior high school students and 12,110
senior high school students from 2,197 state schools across the
country; as well as 97 university students, 92 students
undertaking S2 programs in the country and 10 students
undertaking post-graduate studies overseas.