What some parents say about expensive schools

What some parents say about expensive schools

JAKARTA (JP): Below is what some parents have to say about expensive schools and why they send their children there.

Leslie and James Sinay. We found a suitable secondary school for our only son Andaria, who is now in his final year at SDK Pantara, an elementary school for children with special needs located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

Andaria has passed an entrance test at Tirta Martha secondary school in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta.

Leslie and her husband James, an executive director of a media company, consider the school's Rp 7 million entrance fee and Rp 290,000 monthly tuition fees acceptable, especially in times when everything is expensive.

To enroll our son in a public school, for us, is almost impossible, not only because of its quality but also because of our son's condition. Andaria needs a small class to enable him to easily adapt to a new environment.

Chandra Iskandar, a businessman and father of two. I let my children choose their own schools, as long as they are of good quality.

My eldest daughter, who is 16 years, is now studying in Singapore. This was her choice after seeing that Jakarta had become less friendly with rising crime rates and political tension. I just took her to Singapore and she made a comparison between what she would get if she continued studying in Jakarta and if she moved to Singapore. It was totally her decision.

My second daughter is studying in Cimanggis, East Jakarta, which is near our home. For me, the main factor of consideration for a younger child is the school's location. The short distance between the school and home is important as the child can be easily monitored.

So far I have not found the school fees too high. I think there are no private schools that only seek money. As most schools are operated by foundations, they need money to improve facilities and quality. So it's normal for them to be expensive.

Ahmad Hermiadi, a central bank official. I asked my youngest daughter to continue her schooling at SLTP Tritunggal, a junior high school in Ciputat, South Jakarta. But she insisted on going to SLTP Pembangunan Jaya in Bintaro.

She was bored with her present school's atmosphere, saying she had already spent six years at the school. She really wanted some change.

It turns out that sending Rahma to Pembangunan Jaya cost them Rp 7.7 million in entrance fees and Rp 290,000 in monthly tuition fees.

As parents, we don't have a choice but to accept what the school has decided. Otherwise, our children will not be accepted by the school.

Nancy Haris, a working mother of two says her daughter studies at an elementary school near the family home.

I think a school which is near the home is important for a six-year-old. I don't have any favorite elementary school for my daughter. I chose the current school because of religious reason; I want my daughter to be educated based on our faith. I also want the school to have good discipline.

I would say that most private schools in Jakarta now are of almost comparable quality...To some extent, I think schools have set their entrance and monthly tuition fees too high. I paid some Rp 3 million in entrance fees, while the monthly tuition is Rp 130,000. I think this is quite expensive for a newly opened school."

Catharina Widyasrini, a working mother of two. She was mainly concerned with the religious education that she wanted her children to acquire.

I come from a Catholic family, so I want my children to study in a Catholic school. They study at a high school in Kebayoran Baru. I have no qualms about tuition fees which come up to almost Rp 400,000 a month because I believe the school has a good standard of education and discipline.

I am worried about the teachers' incomes. I hope the teachers' remuneration match the tuition fees. Hopefully a large portion of the funds do not go to the school foundation... I also agree with the cross subsidy concept applied by some private schools where wealthier parents are required to pay a higher entrance fees to make up for the shortfall from poorer ones.

Lela Keumalawati, an employee of PT BAE Systems Indonesia. Her two children attend SD Al Azhar, an Islamic elementary school in Rawamangun, East Jakarta. I paid around Rp 5 million in entrance fees and continue to pay Rp 130,000 in monthly tuition fees.

In my opinion, the fees are quite high, but good education is costly. The school's learning and playing environment makes students smarter, more independent and critical.

In religion, they are more knowledgeable too. Most of them know how to recite the Koran properly. Most importantly, they understand the essence of the religion and practice the teachings in their daily lives.

Many middle and high-income earning parents in Jakarta, however, send their children to public schools.

Tika Sartika, a librarian at a private company. She said she was happy about enrolling her eldest son, Dika, at SLTP 49, a public school in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.

The school is a popular public school in East Jakarta.

I only have to pay Rp 250,000 for books and uniforms. Public schools don't require any entrance fees. And this has not prevented the school from holding many good after school activities like martial arts, computer classes, and English and other language lessons.

Radjamin Nasution, an executive of a state-owned company. I believe public schools are good because I attended one myself and would like my children to go through the same experience. Both my children now attend SMU 3, which is one of the leading public secondary schools in Jakarta.

Another reason why I prefer public schools is that they will make it easier for my children to study in a state university.

I believe the government subsidizes public schools very well. The monthly tuition fees, for example, is only Rp 75,000, which includes contributions for extra curricular activities. In terms of quality and curriculum, good public schools are comparable to private schools that claim to offer the "best programs".