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.