The Jakarta Post
While millions of students across the country began the new academic year Monday, many parents were busy dealing with a problem that has yet to be addressed. Every year, parents have to pay several types of levies before their children can begin studying at new schools. The levies take the shape of application, uniform, and student organization activity fees, in addition to donations for school building maintenance and renovations. The National Education Ministry's director general of management of basic and secondary education, Suyanto, said schools across the country -- except high schools -- were forbidden to collect application fees from new students. The central government, however, does not prohibit schools from seeking money for other types of levies, as the government is only responsible for financing school operational costs, such as electricity, telephone...