Privatization: No to SOEs, yes to education?
President SBY punched his fists hard to the podium when he expressed his disagreement with "selling-off State assets" to foreign investors. "We don't need to sell State assets to finance the development," SBY said adding that his administration never sold State assets. Damn right! No divestment of state-owned enterprises during his tenure. But we sold 10,000 MW program to China. Oops, the most important thing: PRIVATIZATION OF EDUCATION!
SBY's definition of State asset is just too narrow if he talked about privatization or divestment of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). He should have talked SOEs as State liabilities TOO. He should have talked SOEs as the breeding ground of corruption, collusion, and nepotism UNTIL NOW. If he talked about future welfare of Indonesians, he should also took comparative data from other advanced nations: which country of wealthiest society in the world that has so many state-owned companies like Indonesia?
"If we keep selling off (State assets), how about our children and grandchildren?" SBY argued. But he didn't provide strong argument behind that: what is the relationship of having SOEs and welfare of a nation? What is the relationship between having over 200 SOEs during Soeharto years and people's welfare?
Well, since SBY said so in a non-academic forum, let's just consider that as politic rhetoric ahead of April 9 election and his re-election campaign.
Why he paid more attention to divestment or privatization of SOEs? How about the privatization of education in the past few years that cost most parents dearly?
Let's rephrase the following letter from parents in Tangerang, Banten province:
"I just got my son enrolled at State Junior High School II Ciasuk, Tangerang. The school asked for Rp3.5 million for Education Contribution Fund (DSP). But because the school was constructing a new building, they asked for an additional of Rp1 million contribution. I had to pay uniform and books for Rp800,000, with tuition of Rp135,000 per month. The school committee argued no funds from local and central governments and that the so-called BOS (School Operational Assistance) is not clear and only Rp200 million per year or Rp26,000 per student."
"My son was categorized as a smart student, so the school offered him to enroll in the bilingual class with additional tuition of Rp260,000. After he passed the test, the school summoned the parents and they were asked to contribute Rp2 million. Tuition fees were raised to Rp280,000. The school said the bilingual class is education department's program where some schools are forced to establish such classes, but it's weird that the students should bear all the expenses. The school asked for additional contribution of Rp2 million for the purchase of AC, overhead projector, laptop, tables, chairs, and to pay the teachers. The school committee didn't really care whether we could afford or not."
"I really don't understand what kind of tricks the education practitioners committed in this country. Where is the claim of 20% State budget for education? If public schools turn out to be the same cost with private schools, where is the State? Even the wealthiest nation in the world won't do this."
With US$500 to enter a public school, can you imagine how the children of workers with US$100 salary could get good education?
Kompas quoted Satmoko, a textile factory worker with US$90 per month salary, complaining how his son failed to enter a public school because the school set the "tariff" for "contribution" at US$150 minimum. Satmoko asked the headmaster why the "contribution" was so high? He got the answer that the school wanted to purchase a parcel of land for Rp1 billion or about US$100,000.
My university tuition cost was US$12.5 a year back in late 80s.
This article is taken from Yosefardi.com
READ MORE!!!
SBY's definition of State asset is just too narrow if he talked about privatization or divestment of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). He should have talked SOEs as State liabilities TOO. He should have talked SOEs as the breeding ground of corruption, collusion, and nepotism UNTIL NOW. If he talked about future welfare of Indonesians, he should also took comparative data from other advanced nations: which country of wealthiest society in the world that has so many state-owned companies like Indonesia?
"If we keep selling off (State assets), how about our children and grandchildren?" SBY argued. But he didn't provide strong argument behind that: what is the relationship of having SOEs and welfare of a nation? What is the relationship between having over 200 SOEs during Soeharto years and people's welfare?
Well, since SBY said so in a non-academic forum, let's just consider that as politic rhetoric ahead of April 9 election and his re-election campaign.
Why he paid more attention to divestment or privatization of SOEs? How about the privatization of education in the past few years that cost most parents dearly?
Let's rephrase the following letter from parents in Tangerang, Banten province:
"I just got my son enrolled at State Junior High School II Ciasuk, Tangerang. The school asked for Rp3.5 million for Education Contribution Fund (DSP). But because the school was constructing a new building, they asked for an additional of Rp1 million contribution. I had to pay uniform and books for Rp800,000, with tuition of Rp135,000 per month. The school committee argued no funds from local and central governments and that the so-called BOS (School Operational Assistance) is not clear and only Rp200 million per year or Rp26,000 per student."
"My son was categorized as a smart student, so the school offered him to enroll in the bilingual class with additional tuition of Rp260,000. After he passed the test, the school summoned the parents and they were asked to contribute Rp2 million. Tuition fees were raised to Rp280,000. The school said the bilingual class is education department's program where some schools are forced to establish such classes, but it's weird that the students should bear all the expenses. The school asked for additional contribution of Rp2 million for the purchase of AC, overhead projector, laptop, tables, chairs, and to pay the teachers. The school committee didn't really care whether we could afford or not."
"I really don't understand what kind of tricks the education practitioners committed in this country. Where is the claim of 20% State budget for education? If public schools turn out to be the same cost with private schools, where is the State? Even the wealthiest nation in the world won't do this."
With US$500 to enter a public school, can you imagine how the children of workers with US$100 salary could get good education?
Kompas quoted Satmoko, a textile factory worker with US$90 per month salary, complaining how his son failed to enter a public school because the school set the "tariff" for "contribution" at US$150 minimum. Satmoko asked the headmaster why the "contribution" was so high? He got the answer that the school wanted to purchase a parcel of land for Rp1 billion or about US$100,000.
My university tuition cost was US$12.5 a year back in late 80s.
This article is taken from Yosefardi.com
READ MORE!!!
posted by yosef at 1:50 PM
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