School enrollment fees

School enrollment fees

From Suara Karya

While the issue of enrollment fees was explained when
enrollment began, we've read in the newspapers lately of state-
owned schools collecting enrollment fees amounting to Rp 1
million and above for state Senior High Schools.

I just do not understand how state schools, in particular
those in Jakarta, can do such a terrible thing without giving a
second thought. Especially since the Head of the Regional Office
of Jakarta has appealed to all school principals not to talk
about money when they conduct enrollment of new students. The
issue of contribution money and cost of education should be
discussed in the meetings of the Council for Education Assistance
(BP3) after school begins. Why? Because BP3, which consists of
representatives of the students' parents, can objectively tell
the right cost of education, having taken everything including
the financial ability of its members into consideration.

I'd like to warn all parties that if the contribution of
education costs amounting to millions of rupiah continues to
disturb enrollment of new students, then there is a danger of (i)
burdening the poor parents who in turn dare not enroll their
children in those schools, and (ii) directly damaging the image
of national education as school will no longer be a place for
learning and teaching, but a place to do business.

BUDIMAN PRANOTO

Jakarta