Govt told to keep cool over distance classes<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
House of Representatives legislators have suggested that the
\ngovernment respond wisely to several state universities which are
\nnow running long-distance classes for graduate management
\ndegrees.<\/p>\n
House Commission VI for social affairs member Muhammadi said
\nthere was no reason to object to the long-distance classes
\nprovided the institutions which organized the classes managed to
\nmaintain high standards and avoid becoming trapped in money-
\nmaking activities.<\/p>\n
Muhammadi said the government lacked a strong basis to ban the
\nprograms if it turned a blind eye to the fact that the country
\nwas in need of more management experts in the face of the free
\ntrade era.<\/p>\n
\"The government should have offered quality universities more
\nopportunities to expand their educational activities beyond
\nprovincial boundaries in order to fill the gap,\" Muhammadi said
\nas quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
\"The government is not supposed to intervene too far in
\neducational affairs due to the implementation of regional
\nautonomy.\"<\/p>\n
Muhammadi was speaking at a hearing with outgoing Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity (UGM) rector Ichlasul Amal and his entourage on
\nThursday regarding the Ministry of National Education's recent
\nban of the classes.<\/p>\n
The ministry has stopped its subsidies to the Yogyakarta-based
\nstate university for ignoring the government's call for an end to
\nthe program.<\/p>\n
Other state higher education institutions, the Padjadjaran
\nUniversity in Bandung and the Bandung Institute of Technology,
\nhave agreed to shut down their offices in Jakarta and other towns
\noutside Bandung.<\/p>\n
The main reason for the ban is a fear of degradation of
\neducational quality through long-distance learning services.<\/p>\n
Director General of Higher Education Satryo Soemantri
\nBrodjonegoro said that state universities which profited from the
\nlong-distance classes could encourage the improper pursuit of
\nacademic titles in the society, which is against the ideals of
\neducation.<\/p>\n
UGM opened its classes in Jakarta on Jl. Gondangdia, Central
\nJakarta last year, with a student paying between Rp 35 million
\n(US$3,500) and Rp 45 million per program.<\/p>\n
Muhammadi questioned the government's double standards in
\ndealing with the matter by allowing a Malaysian university to
\nopen a branch in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
House Commission VI Taufikurrahman chairman Saleh shared
\nMuhammadi's view, saying that democracy and regional autonomy
\nshould enable all parts of the nation, including state
\nuniversities, to improve their creativity and self-reliance.<\/p>\n
\"I think the ministry is unfair (in punishing UGM) as it fails
\nto differentiate long-distance classes run by unknown
\nuniversities from those administered by quality universities,\" he
\nsaid, adding that the commission would invite Minister of
\nNational Education Malik Fajar to discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
He suggested, however, that the concerned state universities
\ntake the government's policy positively.<\/p>\n
\"The ban implies that those state universities should comply
\nwith the rules and nature of higher education,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-told-to-keep-cool-over-distance-classes-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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