School sells book to students
School sells book to students
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta
A circular distributed by a teachers' cooperative at state-run
junior high school SLTPN 139 in Klender, East Jakarta, has given
an added burden to parents, who are still nursing their headache
after the school increased its monthly fees without consulting
them.
The circular, dated June 16, notifies them of books that will
be used by second and third year students, with a note
instructing parents to buy the books at the cooperative on
Saturday, the day parents collect the students' school report.
The package for second-year students is priced at Rp 315,200
(US$38), while the package for the third year is Rp 235,500. The
circular is signed by headmaster Parmudji and the cooperative
chairman Sukimin.
Parmudji, however, denied that students were obliged to buy
the books although he failed to explain why the school didn't
obtain the school committee's consent beforehand.
"I guarantee the books are cheaper in the cooperative," he
told reporters on Friday, adding that the publisher Yudisthira
had discounted the book prices for the school.
He also explained that the school didn't invite parents for a
meeting before increasing the school fees from the previous Rp
45,000 per month to Rp 60,000 because "we don't have a room big
enough to accommodate all the parents of our students".
Parmudji said half of the fees would go to the school
committee and would be used to subsidize about 100 students who
come from poor families.
As much as Rp 15,000 is allotted to finance the students'
extracurricular activities, Rp 10,000 for computer lessons, and
the remaining Rp 5,000 for evaluating the students, he said.
Syamsidar Siregar, City Council member from Commission C who
also oversees education, said that the school should not sell
books to students.
But not all schools in the city have such a practice. Some
even lend textbooks to the students for free.
Ari, a second year student of state junior high school 49 in
Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, said that her school never obliged its
students to purchase the textbooks at school. She preferred to
purchase the books at school to save time. But she did not
compare prices with those sold at bookstores.
Meanwhile, Rasyidi, 30, whose daughter is studying at a state
junior high school in Bekasi, said his daughter often purchased
books at the school, as well as bookstores.
"Some of the books sold at school are more expensive, while
others are cheaper," he said.
Rasyid also said that his son, who was studying at another
state junior high school in Bekasi, borrowed textbooks from the
school, which provided them for free.