Students protest tuition hike

BOGOR, West Java: About 2,000 PGRI 4 high school students staged a protest on Thursday, demanding the monthly school fee be decreased from Rp 36,000 (US$5.30) to Rp 30,000.

The monthly tuition fee was initially Rp 20,000 but was raised to Rp 30,000, plus Rp 6,000 for computer lessons.

A group of students gathered at Jambu Dua Plaza before marching to their school on Jl. Ciremai in North Bogor district. The students then sat in the school yard, yelling out their demands.

Students also demanded that the school management repair computers, provide extra curricular equipment and prayer facilities and revoke the obligation to buy books from teachers.

Principle Hamid Said tried to persuade the students to be tolerant, saying: "It is impossible to lower the school fee due to high operational costs."

Further discussions with the school's management is pending. (21/edt)