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More urban parents look to private schools for children's education
Many urban parents are opting to enroll their children in private schools that cost a fortune even though the government provides free nine years of compulsory education in state schools.
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School children observe caricatures in 'Demokrasi Dikorupsi' (Democracy Corrupted) exhibition. (JP/Aman Rochman)
F
or Dwi Trisnawati, a housewife and mother of two from Larangan Utara in Tangerang, Banten, choosing the best school that can support her children’s character development, talents and interests are key, even if it costs her an arm and a leg.
Her 6-year-old daughter Jasmine will enter elementary school in July next year and she had decided from early on to send her to a private school she believes will suit her idea of a good education.
“There are certainly some basic differences in the teaching system between state and private schools, which — based on my own observations — heavily lie on the attention they pay to their students, curriculum, teaching techniques and facilities,” Dwi said on Thursday.
In terms of attention to students, she said, private schools were more capable than state schools, which was one striking aspect parents who wished to send their children to a smaller school should consider.
“With fewer students in class, insya Allah [God willing], the lessons can be more effective as there would be more attention given to students, who can then concentrate more in class,” Dwi added.
For that reason, Dwi conceded that she would not hesitate to pay more money on school registration fees as well as the monthly tuition, even though the Indonesian government provides nine years of compulsory education for free.
The private Islamic elementary school in West Jakarta in which she plans to enroll her daughter, for instance, will cost her Rp 30 million (US$2,131) in registration fees and about Rp 1.2 million per month for tuition.
