Bekasi (Koran Tempo: (2007) The expenses of the travel to Bali is covered by the fund raised from student contribution for school budget and expenditures. Students of state junior high school SMPN I Bekasi get three days off from Thursday to Saturday (October 25-27), because 80 teachers and school supervisor are traveling to Bali to carry out comparative study at the SMPN I Denpasar.

From Tempo observation, SMPN 1 Bekasi was quite yesterday. Only two school administration staff was seen in the school’s office. SMPN I Bekasi administration staff, Rusman, admitted that 1,240 students are not going to school because teachers are traveling to Bali for comparative study. "School will resume on Monday (October 29)," he said. According to him, the comparative study is part of the International – Standard School Pilot Program (RSBI) initiated by the Bekasi municipality administration. "Bali is chosen because there are many international schools there," Rusman explained.

Out-of-school competency improvement study, he added, has been carried out previously. One day before the teachers travel to Bali, 75 students from 3 international classes in the school were taken to visit Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. Some parents complained about the comparative study program which seems to waste a lot of money. One of the parents who doesn’t want to be named said he believes that the fund used to cover the expenses of the comparative study come from student contribution for school budget and expenditure draft (RAPBS). He said the school asked each student of regular class to pay over Rp 2 million per year for RAPBS; while each student of international class has to pay at least Rp 5 million per year. The contribution should be settled by December 2007. “The comparative study should use the fund from APBD,” he said.

Speaker of Bekasi Education Agency, Wasis Priyono, acknowledged that his office has received report about the comparative study carried out by SMPN I Bekasi to Bali. He thinks that the program is necessary for school development. “This will broaden teachers view," he said. Asked about the expenses that might be covered by the fund raised from students’ contribution and fund from the agency, Wasis said, "As long as students can enjoy the result I don’t see any problem," he said.

According to Wasis, while teachers carry out the comparative study, students are given home assignments. “Even though they are not going to school, they are still studying at home,” he said. Independent learning is part of Education Unit Curriculum (KTSP). Meanwhile, member of the Commission C of Bekasi City Council, Wahyu Prihantono, said the schools should have discussed such an activity with parents and it could only be carried out after schools and parents reach agreement. “If there’s no agreement, education agency should take firm measure," said Wahyu who regretted the comparative study to Bali which is carried out after student get a long Lebaran vacation.