School fees

School fees

From Bisnis Indonesia

As a concerned parent I want to obtain some information and at
the same time would like to give some suggestions.

* The President once said that elementary school education is
free. But the reality is different. All my children have to pay
school fees. The last child, in the sixth grade, has to pay Rp
500 per month. Is this approved by the educational authority?

* The Parent-Teacher Organization always makes decisions
requiring parents to pay such expenses as fees for school
equipment, building and marking the new academic year. In this
case can't the ministry of education and culture issue an
announcement concerning school fees that have to be paid by
parents?

* On school uniforms, many schools sell school uniforms at a
price already decided by the office of education and culture, and
it is an obligation for parents to buy them. Why do school do
this business? Actually, it is the parents' job to provide their
children with uniforms. And I would like to suggest to the
education ministry to ban the schools from selling uniforms. Also
all additional apparel like batik shirts, hats, neck ties, belts
etc. should be abolished, because they are not essential and only
add to the parents' burden.

AMIR

Jakarta