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.