Suara Pembaruan: The music’s sound was soft on the ear of the Pembaruan journalist when entering the lobby of the restaurant in Jakarta to meet Berliana (46). In the conversation, Berliana expressed her concern about the current economic conditions especially the increasing cost of her children’s education.

“Now, school has become very expensive. I have three children; two are in university and the other still in high school. The cost always concerns me, it makes me confused. But my husband and I keep trying to pay it to keep our children in school,” said Berliana.

At the time when her husband was still working in the shipping company, the needs have always been fulfilled. She never complained about when her children going to school, from primary up to university level.

“Even though I have to pay a lot of school fees, I always try to pay it to make school comfortable for them,” she said. But now, almost six months ago, her husband is no longer sailing. Because of that, the high cost of education for her children is really a burden. To keep her children in school, she needs at least Rp 5 million per month.

Her oldest son currently studies at a private university in West Jakarta. During a one-month period, Berliana has to pay his living costs and study fees. For that, Berliana needs at least Rp 3 million, including Rp 2 million in semester fees and Rp 1 million for living costs. Fortunately, her son has an economical living style. “From that Rp 1 million, he can put some aside as savings,” she explained.

Relatively high expenditure is needed to fulfill the needs of her second son who goes to lectures at a private institution in Depok. At enrollment, she had to pay Rp 4 million. The cost included Rp 400,000 in tuition fees and semester credit fees (SKS) amounting to Rp 80,000 per SKS. The financial burden became heavier when her third child, need to change her high school to be closer to home.

Berliana had to pay Rp 3.5 million for the transfer fees, including the uniform and others. At minimum, she has to pay Rp 320,000 per month for her daughter’s school fees. Due to the high education costs for her children, she has started her first small business. She opened a play station store, where neighborhood kids can rent and play play station games. She can earn from Rp 40,000 to Rp 80,000 per day.

She pays her day-to-day living expenses using that amount of money. For her, education for her children is more important than other things. For that reason, she chooses to fill her children’s needs before other needs. “I cook modestly so I can save,” she explained

Shoe Polisher
A similar situation has been experienced by Ade (11), a street child in the Menteng area, Central Jakarta. Ade said that he has to become a shoe polisher during the night to fulfill his basic needs. Several years ago, his father passed away, and since then he lived with his mother and little sister.

To fill his family needs, his mother works as a freelance housekeeper. “My mother said once to me that I do no need to go to school. But I still want to go to school,” he said. For that reason, he decided to work. At first, he worked as a plastic bottle collector and brought those bottles to the collector.

He did not stay long in that job. Until one day, he decided to change and became a shoe polisher. “The large part of the money goes in school fees,” said Ade. During one night working, he can earn Rp 7,000 to Rp 12,000. Part of his earnings went to his mother, and the rest is for paying his school fees and other needs.

All of this was his effort to stay at school. Ade, who came from a very poor family, explained that until now, he did not receive any financial help from his school. “My grades are fine, but I haven’t received a scholarship from school. I have paid all fees including the illegal ones. For that reason, I should work to help my mother,” said Ade.

Possibly, Ade is one of the many disadvantaged children who have not been reached by the educational assistance, from both the central and local governments even though he deserves it.

Source