Medan (ANTARA News) - There is a growing concern that the fuel price hike could also increase education costs, resulting in a high number of student dropouts.

The North Sumatra Student`s Front coordinator Donny Aditra said here on Thursday that the government`s plan to hike the price of fuel in April will have a significant impact on the education sector.

"The cost of education will also go up along with learning material and other related things. If this happens, it will definitely have an impact on the number of high school dropouts," Donny said.

Donny also said that fuel is crucial to improving the economy and the lives of people in every country.

In Indonesia, fuel is used for transportation and household purposes, besides being required for the operational needs of large small and medium industries.

Fuel is closely linked with people`s lives in nearly all aspects and sectors, he noted.

The rise in fuel prices will certainly increase production costs across various sectors, which will also hike up the prices of the public`s basic needs.

"Based on these facts, it is certain that workers, peasants and the poor people of this country are the ones who will bear the burden of the fuel price hike," he remarked.

Therefore, there is no scientific or valid reason for the government to raise the fuel prices.

Measures taken by the current government show how it does not have the will to improve the welfare of its people.

"The fuel price raise policy also depicts the government`s inconsistencies, as it had earlier stated that it would not increase prices in 2012. We want to collect thousands of signatures from various student organizations in North Sumatra to show our rejection of the fuel price hike plan," Donny said.

(A050/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Suryanto
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