Students enter school, parents foot the bill

Students enter school, parents foot the bill

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As the new school year begins on Monday, many parents of new
students are facing another headache due to all the financial
commitments required for their children.

"I'm relieved that my children have been admitted to state
schools. But now I must set aside a huge amount of money to pay
for the entrance fees," said Maringan, a resident of Kampung
Ambon, East Jakarta, whose three children are set to enter new
schools.

Maringan said that two of his children would start their first
day respectively at state junior high school 74 in Rawamangun,
East Jakarta, and state senior high school 68 in Salemba, Central
Jakarta.

"People say that high school 68 required Rp 3 million (US$337)
in entrance fees last year. I don't know about this year. Maybe,
I will try to ask for a reduction to Rp 1 million," said
Maringan, who works as a marketing employee at a chemical firm in
East Jakarta.

He added that he also needed to have money ready for his
eldest son, who would go to university this year.

Besides being ready to pay school fees, Maringan added, he had
to look for uniforms and books needed for his children.

Similarly, Pawitra, whose two sons are entering new schools,
complained that she had to be careful in allocating her money.

"My two sons have been admitted to private schools in South
Jakarta, one at junior high school and the other at senior high
school," said Pawitra who resides in Kebayoran Lama, South
Jakarta.

The school management, Pawitra said, required her to pay Rp
1.5 million in junior high school and Rp 2.5 million in senior
high school entrance fees.

Pawitra revealed that, thus far, she had paid Rp 2 million of
her two children's entrance fees.

"Fortunately, they (the school managements) have given me some
leeway by allowing me to pay in installments over six months,"
she said.

After the long holiday, nearly two million students in
Jakarta, from elementary to high school will be experiencing
their first day at school today.