The cancellation of SMAN 2 Kabupaten Tangerang Goes to Campus (GTC) program has sparked controversy as parents report partial refunds and additional charges, leading to allegations of unauthorized fees and lack of transparency.
In early 2025, SMAN 2 Mauk in Tangerang Regency planned a GTC program for its students—11th graders were to visit Yogyakarta at a cost of IDR 1.9 million, while 10th graders had a local trip planned for IDR 900,000. However, following a directive from the Banten Provincial Education Office prohibiting such tours, the program was canceled.
Despite the cancellation, parents reported that they did not receive full refunds. For 11th-grade students, only IDR 1.4 million was returned, with IDR 500,000 withheld without clear explanation. Similarly, 10th-grade students received IDR 500,000 back, with IDR 400,000 deducted.
Adding to the controversy, screenshots from a class WhatsApp group revealed that parents who had not initially paid were asked to contribute IDR 375,000 to cover "compensation to the travel agency" (Jurnal Patroli News, April 15, 2025).
One parent expressed frustration:
"I didn't participate from the start because I couldn't afford it. Now they're asking me to pay compensation. It's hard enough to make ends meet daily; why is a public school doing this?"
The Indonesian Journalists Forum (FWJI) of Tangerang Regency has raised concerns about potential unauthorized charges and administrative misconduct.
"If there's no official agreement or legal basis, then such deductions or charges could be considered unauthorized," said Irawan Sumardi, FWJI Tangerang Regency Coordinator.
FWJI has reported the matter to the Banten Provincial Education Office, the Inspectorate, and the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia for further investigation.
As of this report, the school has not provided an official statement regarding the fee deductions or the request for compensation payments.
Source: Jurnal Patroli News
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