Teaching parents worth

Who should bear the costs of running schools in the country? Under the nine-year compulsory education program, it should be the state. At least parents who send their children to state schools are entitled to free education -- free from enrollment, tuition and other fees. Even books and uniforms should be provided by the state. This was recognized by our politicians when they amended the 1945 Constitution in 2003 by stipulating that the government must allocate one-fifth of its total spending each year for education.

Why is it that at this time of every year we hear parents complaining about the exorbitant fees they must pay to enroll their children in school, and that each year, their complaints seem to grow louder?

There is a simple answer to this: our government is flat broke. It is not meeting its constitutional obligation to allocate 20 percent of its budget for education, and thus, nor is it fulfilling its duty to provide universal and free education for children between six and 15 years of age.

There is something to be said about the government allocating almost a quarter of its spending this year to subsidize domestic fuel prices, but that is another story.

Education of course has never been "free" here in Indonesia or anywhere else in the world. There are costs to bear.

Running a school is in fact very expensive. Managing the building, equipment and facilities, paying teachers' salaries and providing books and uniform -- all require tons of money. The notion of "free education" is really a misnomer. At the end of the day, someone has to pay for them. The question is, who?

To expect the government to foot the bill, given the country's current economic condition, is to wait for a miracle. The government does not have the kind of money that would guarantee every Indonesian child an education without having to pay a single rupiah.

Blaming the government for the high fees will not bring about a miracle either. Though grumbling does allow some parents to let off steam, a solution is what is needed. If the government is unable to come up with all the money to finance the compulsory education program, then it is up to society to make up for the shortfall.

State schools in Jakarta receive lump grants from the government but rarely are they sufficient. And we know how paltry civil servants' salaries are.

For just about every school in the country it is necessary, through fund-raising, to make up for the shortfall and to supplement teachers' salaries, providing them with a decent and respectable living.

Thus, schools turn to their committees, made up of parents representatives, to come up with the money. And it is these committees that charge the fees -- not the schools -- that parents find objectionable.

Part of the problem of the high enrollment and tuition fees is the attitude of many parents, particularly those who have the means to pay for their children's education but refuse to chip in -- or would chip in, just enough for their own children, but not for others.

A quick trip to some of the "favorite" state schools in Jakarta will show that many parents pick up their children in chauffeur-driven cars, and many children carry cell phones. And still they have the audacity to complain about the school fees, which surely they can afford given their lifestyle.

Granted, some parents are genuinely poor and need assistance.

There are many ways in which society can help.

There are philanthropic organizations that raise money from the public and channel it to needy parents. The terrific public response to the Dec. 26 tsunami in Aceh showed there are generous individuals and corporations with money to spare. They are just waiting for a fund-raising campaign that speaks to them.

A law that promotes the activities of corporate philanthropy would certainly help -- but these are medium or long-term solutions.

Parents have an obligation to help pay for the upkeep of their children's school. A change in attitude on their behalf would go a long way toward easing the anxiety of schools and poor parents.

The problem of financing education is too significant to be left to the government alone. It is our responsibility too.