Schools demand high fees from new students
Schools demand high fees from new students
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The enrollment of new students in junior high schools and high
schools across the city has been marred by the imposition of high
fees on would-be students.
Waskita, not his real name, a civil servant, grumbled that his
nephew, who had applied for a state junior high school in South
Jakarta, was asked to pay an enrollment fee of Rp 2 million
(US$243).
"It's really burdensome. But, of course, we have no choice but
to pay it if we want him to be accepted by the school," sighed
Waskita.
Similarly, there have been reports that new students who want
to enroll in a popular state high school have to pay up to Rp 5
million.
The principal of the SMU 70 state high school in Jakarta,
Suyanto, claimed that new students were expected to make the
payment voluntarily in accordance with their parents' financial
means.
"Last year, the contributions ranged from nothing up to Rp 3
million," he said.
Commenting on the high enrollment fees, the City Council
blasted the policy as being too burdensome on new students,
especially those from the lower income bracket.
"There must be a policy setting a ceiling for the permissible
fees that may be imposed on new students seeking admission," said
Syamsidar Siregar, a member of the City Council's Commission E on
educational affairs.
According to Syamsidar, who is also the secretary to the
Jakarta chapter of the National Mandate Party (PAN), school
management boards and parents' committees had the right to decide
on the amount of fees, also often referred to as school
"development charges.
These charges must be paid by new students upon admission.
"However, they must not burden the students. That's why the
City Elementary Education Agency and City Secondary Education
Agency must regulate and restrict the amounts involved," said
Syamsidar.
The City Elementary Education Agency oversees state elementary
schools and junior high schools, while the City Secondary
Education Agency is responsible for state high schools.
Syamsidar vowed that the council would summon the directors of
these agencies for a hearing before June 20.
"We will recommend ceilings for the fees imposed on new
students," said Syamsidar.
In addition to the standard, Syamsidar said, the council would
recommend that the agencies ensure transparency and
accountability in the use of the money collected from fees.
Schools, especially state schools, Syamsidar asserted, must be
accessible to all students, including those who come from low-
income families. Fees must not prevent poor students from
receiving an education.
Meanwhile, the director of the City Secondary Education
Agency, Sukesti Martono, played down the allegations that schools
were imposing enrollment fees.
"There must be a misunderstanding. No enrollment fees are
permissible. But, the school is allowed to impose charges for the
school's development on students who have definitely been
admitted," said Sukesti.
Sukesti claimed that the development funds allocated to state
schools were inadequate. "If the school management wants to
provide better service, they must look for additional sources of
income to pay for the additional costs."
However, Sukesti said that students who objected to paying
fees could report their objections to the school concerned or
directly to his office by calling (021) 5271424.