Jakarta (Kompas: (11/07/07) National Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo asserted on Tuesday (07/10)  that we have to control admission fee imposed by schools to make sure all children have access to education, especially in elementary schools  and junior high schools which are included in the 9-year Compulsory Education Program. Schools can ask parents to pay (for admission fee) as long as it is carried out under control and students’ economic condition should be put in consideration.

“Schools included in the compulsory education program shouldn’t do that (imposing admission fee.) The government has provided school operational assistance (BOS). If there’s any fee, it should be under tolerable limit and (schools) should not be too commercialized,” Bambang said. The on-going new students’ admission has raised concern among parents. Some schools have unilaterally determined the amount of admission fee, usually called ‘school development assistance’ or ‘admission contribution.’

Meanwhile, Bandar Lampung Deputy Mayor Kherlani asked parents who feel that they have been disadvantaged to report to the City Monitoring Council. Those who already pay should show the receipt. Schools are allowed to ask parents to pay admission fee or registration fee if it has been approved by school committee and parents. In reality some schools ask parents to pay Rp 453,000 for registration fee. In the 2007/2008 academic year, each school is asked to present its annual budget. Operational budget from regency/municipality budget (APBD) should be clearly accounted.

Coordinator of a post set up by Education Coalition of Bandung (KPKB) Dan Satriana explained said that schools have been using different manners to ask for payment. Some schools asked openly, others never give any receipt or asked for “down payment”. “Some schools asked parents to sign a letter certifying that they are willing to pay a certain sum of money after admission process,” he said. Oji Mahroji, head of Bandung Education Agency, added, his office has settled 8 cases concerning admission fee in elementary schools, junior high schools and vocational schools. The schools in question have been reprimanded. “As soon as we receive the report, we ask schools to cancel the payment,” Oji added.

Aside of the PSB selection channel, students enrolling through special admission and non-academic channels also have to pay for registration fee. Receipts showed that schools have asked them to pay between Rp 500,000 and Rp 2 million. After being reprimanded those schools did not impose any fee anymore. In Padang, West Sumatra, local Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), opened a post to gather complains by parents and students. 

However, Coordinator of local LBH’s Human Rights Division, Vino Oktavia, said that the authorities did not give any serious response.The data of the LBH Padang revealed that admission fee in schools reaches between Rp 750,000 and Rp 1,5 million per person, which indicate how serious the condition (commercialization) of  education in Indonesia is, especially in West Sumatera. LBH called on decision-makers to review its policies which fail to protect the people.

Registration fee for existing students

Registration fee has raised concern among parents. Some schools in Palembang, Bandar Lampung, and Bandung have asked existing students to pay for registration fee. Mariati (35), who lives in Ki Merogan, Palembang, said her kid now in 8th grade in a Junior High School on the Ki Merogan Street has to pay Rp 40,000 for registration. Aside of that, she still has to pay Rp10,000 for administration fee. The fee has to be settled before the new school year start on Monday. “If we are unable to pay, my child cannot go to school anymore,” she said. She only earns Rp 75,000 per moth washing the clothes.

In a State Senior High School in Bukit Besar students have to pay Rp 15,000 for administration fee, Rp 12,000 for computers, Rp 30.000 for tutorial, and Rp 10,000 for students organization. Head of secondary school office in Palembang Riza Fahlevi said, parents should report to the local education agency if they are forced to pay.