Students want cut in study fees

Students want cut in study fees

TANGERANG (JP): More than 1,000 students at state-run senior
high school SMUN 1 in Mauk district here went on strike on
Thursday, demanding a reduction in the education support fee and
transparency in the use of the student organization's funds.

Instead of entering their classrooms, the students gathered in
the school yard when the bell rang. Their action astonished the
teachers, few of whom were aware of what the students wanted.

The students demanded a meeting with the principal, Suhaya, to
set out their complaints.

Twenty student representatives eventually met Suhaya and asked
him to reduce the monthly fee of Rp 13,600 (US$1.81) to a maximum
of Rp 12,000.

"Last year the education support fee, which included the
tuition fee, was only Rp 12,000 per month. Now why has it been
raised, even after the government ended the tuition fee? It's too
much for us," Yayat, one of the students, said.

He said the students were also demanding an explanation for
the use of the student organization fund.

Each student was obliged to pay Rp 1,000 a month to support
the organization's activities, he said.

Based on their calculations, the school had collected at least
Rp 10.51 million this year, but only Rp 3.6 million of the funds
had been used. Where was the rest? Yayat asked.

The students said that they would continue the strike until
their questions were answered.

Suhaya said that the fee of Rp 13,600 was in line with a
decree issued by the Tangerang regent. (41/jun)