YLKI warns about school fees

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) is urging the public to report irregular fees and practices during the school registration period.

No fees should be exacted for membership in the intra-school organization OSIS, computer classes and compulsory savings.

Entrance fees for state schools are Rp 33,500 for the junior high level and Rp 38,500 for the secondary level.

"Such problems (violations of rules at state schools) happen each year," YLKI warned in a release made available to The Jakarta Post.

"Often the student is not in a strong bargaining position."

Complaints should be addressed from June 28 to July 19 to YLKI at tel. 79191255/79195018, or fax. 7981038.

The office is at Jl. Pancoran Barat VII No. 1, Duren Tiga, South Jakarta.

To support the "Stay in School" campaign during the national economic crisis, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Coordinating Ministry for People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication have launched a program to waive entrance fees for needy students.