'We don't mind spending a lot on education'

It's almost school time again. Many parents in the city have been busy buying new books and uniforms for their children, while others look for new schools that match their child's needs and their ability to pay. The Jakarta Post asked some Jakartans how they deal with this time of year.

Nuraini, 40, is a housewife who lives with her husband and two children in Pondok Pinang, South Jakarta. Her son, Ardi, will begin his second year in junior high school, while her daughter, Ani, will enter sixth grade in elementary school:

Actually, I'm not that preoccupied yet with my children going back to school, because it's still some weeks to come.

What I'm still thinking about now is how they will spend their summer holidays. I wish they could join a pesantren kilat (summer Islamic boarding school) or something like that, other than just helping me around the house or going to the mall on weekends.

It will still be another year or so before my children graduate from their current schools, so I not yet worried about their admissions to other schools.

As for the next academic calendar, my husband and I have always kept savings for their daily school needs.

Buying new stationery is usually a must, but I hope my daughter can still use her brother's textbooks. The problem is the curriculum often changes year-on-year, so sometimes some of the books are not the same ones used.

But since my husband and I consider education for our children to be very important, we don't mind spending money for books or any other things, as long as it's for their best and we can afford it.

Paulus Wirawan, 32, is an employee at state telecommunications operator PT Telkom. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Cibubur, East Jakarta:

My eldest daughter will not start school until next year, so I don't have to worry about school admissions this time around. Well, not really. My wife and I have saved for the education of my children during the past two years.

Finding out we have to pay at least Rp 2 million (US$215) to admit our children to a kindergarten, monthly school fees not included, I wouldn't know where I could find the money to send my girls to university if I didn't start saving now.

Education is expensive in this country. But I don't expect free schooling because I think the obligation to pay for education makes parents and children take it seriously.

----The Jakarta Post