'Schools sucking us dry with demands'

Everyone knows that a good education is the best guarantee for a successful and happy life, but many parents here in Jakarta are finding it difficult, if not impossible, to finance their children's education and send them into the future armed with a degree. Both private and state schools, from kindergarten on up to university, impose fees on students, which they call "donations", leaving parents scrambling to raise the needed cash. The Jakarta Post spoke with a few of these disgruntled parents.

Atik, 39, works at a multinational company in Tangerang, Banten. She lives in Tangerang with her husband and son:

My son is starting elementary school and during the enrollment process, the school told me the "donation" ranged from Rp 1.9 million to Rp 3.8 million.

After some tough negotiations, the school agreed that I would pay a donation of only Rp 1.8 million and Rp 125,000 in monthly tuition.

However, the school warned me not to tell other parents about the deal or the school wouldn't be able to reach its revenue target.

I had to be stubborn in the negotiations because it is commonly believed that a family with one child should pay more than families with more than one child.

Educational institutions tend to exploit would-be students financially for their own benefit. Business is the utmost consideration, if I may say so.

Karno, 40, is a motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver in Central Jakarta. He lives in Palmerah, West Jakarta, with his wife and three children:

I get a headache whenever I think about having to pay for my son's education.

It's just crazy, the school asked for about Rp 2 million for the enrollment fee. It's hard to believe because the school is a state-run high school.

My wife is still negotiating with the school about the amount of the "donation", which excludes school uniforms and the monthly tuition.

I guess my son will have to struggle with his brain while his parents struggle with money.

It's hard just getting by every day, so forget about raising so much cash in a very short time. It's ridiculous how expensive it is now just to get a seat in a school.

I don't know how I will get the money if the negotiations fail. It would be a pity if my son couldn't go to school this year.

What I need to do is win the local lottery that I play every day. That's the only way I'll be able to raise so much money.

Anthoni, 42, was recently laid off from the supermarket he worked at in Central Jakarta. He lives in Bekasi with his wife and three children:

School enrollment fees are very expensive now and not all parents can afford them. Educational institutions are no longer knowledge-oriented but business-oriented.

It seems that education now is only for those who have a lot of money to buy a seat at a school.

Two of my children just graduated from junior high school and high school. I had to tell my eldest son he could not continue his education at university because we don't have the money.

I don't think I can afford the Rp 20 million he would need, especially since I was fired this month from my company.

My son was willing to suspend his education. He wants to work while taking some courses this year.

Now I have to register my second child in a private high school, which will cost me about Rp 2.7 million for the enrollment fee and Rp 200,000 for the monthly tuition.

The fee is not negotiable and I have to pay it in cash, otherwise he will not be able to continue his education.

Judging from the school's alumni and its reputation, I think it is a reliable school regardless of the high fees.

-- Leo Wahyudi S