School fee help sought in Mataram

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: About 5,000 students of poor families here need donors to help them to continue their education, Antara reported Wednesday. At least 2,000 of them are on the verge of dropping out.

Administrators use the term "foster parents" for donors who pay for students' schooling through formal or informal channels.

"The students range from elementary to high school level," Ainul Asikin, Mataram's regional secretary, said.

Of the 5,000 students, 582 are slated to receive donations from the National Movement of Foster Parents. Donations comprise packages of uniforms, stationery and Rp 15,000 in cash.

According to the administration's latest data, only 23 percent of senior high school students graduated. At the elementary level, 95 percent completed studies and 70.4 percent of junior high school students graduated. (edt)