Schools report lower enrollments, empty seats

JAKARTA (JP): Many government-run junior high schools in the city have extended their registration periods because they still have more than 2,000 unfilled seats, a spokesman for the Jakarta branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture said yesterday.

The registration period, which should have ended on Wednesday, has now been extended at 31 junior high schools to July 14 to allow for late admissions, Hadis Hadianegara said.

In the past, these state schools, where admission fees are subsidized by the government, had the luxury to turn away primary school graduates with low grades.

The low enrollment at state junior high schools is widely believed to have been caused by parents enrolling their children in private schools because they felt that their grades were too low.

Many privately-run schools, not wanting to be a second choice to state schools, closed their registration period two weeks earlier and compelled parents to pay in full.

Hadis said the state junior high schools that have extended their registration period are SMP 71 in Rawasari Selatan, SMP 136 and SMP 137 in Cempaka Putih Barat, SMP 161 in Kebayoran Lama Utara, SMP 162 in Marunda, SMP 266 in Cilincing, SMP 170 and SMP 270 in Pegangsaan Dua, SMP 221 in Sunter, SMP 113 in Ancol, SMP 120 in Kamal Muara, SMP 55 in Pinangsia, SMP 223 in Kampung Gedong, SMP 278 in Kamal, SMP 220 in Tanjung Duren, SMP 271 in Sukabumi Selatan, SMP 250 in Cipete Utara, SMP 56 in Melawai, SMP 13 in Kebayoran Baru, SMP 277 in Pejaten Barat, SMP 195 in Duren Sawit, SMP 234 and SMP 262 in Cakung Timur, SMP 160 and SMP 222 in Taman Mini, SMP 192 and SMP 272 in Lubang Buaya, SMP 157, SMP 180 and SMP 259 in Bambu Apus and SMP 236 in Kramat Jati.

More than 200 students and parents yesterday came to the city branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture seeking information about the extended registration period.

There were no reports of low admissions at state-run senior high schools, where seats are also premium.

Hadis said the city has 500 unfilled seats at five technical and vocation schools which offer three year courses for junior high school graduates.

The five are the STM Pasar Baru, SMIK Bambu Apus, SMKK 3 Bambu Apus, SMKK 6 Alur Laut, and SMKK 7 Kebon Sirih. (29)