Rectors told to reject poor quality lecturers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to enhance the credibility of national
\nuniversities, Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin asked
\nall rectors on Saturday to turn away lecturers who graduated from
\ndubious institutions.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the inauguration of a part of the Muhammadiyah
\nUniversity campus in Surabaya, Yahya called on rectors to tighten
\nthe recruitment process of lecturers and double check their
\ndegrees.<\/p>\n
\"I recommend that rectors dismiss lecturers who graduate from
\nquestionable universities and, if necessary, strip them of their
\ndegrees,\" Yahya told Antara.<\/p>\n
He was commenting on the mushrooming educational institutions,
\nwhich claim to have affiliations with foreign universities, and
\noffer master and doctorate degrees which can be obtained in less
\nthan one year.<\/p>\n
Yahya has repeatedly expressed his concern over the practice,
\nwhich he labeled as a commercialization of university degrees.
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid shared the concern on Thursday while
\nunveiling the draft state budget.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman suggested that the ministry empower the National
\nAccreditation Board (BAN) in weeding out the questionable
\neducational institutions.<\/p>\n
The ministry issued a letter in December to warn other
\ngovernment institutions and the public of the presence of schools
\nwhich violated regulations on higher education.<\/p>\n
In its letter, the ministry classified some Jakarta-based
\nmanagement schools as errant educational institutions.<\/p>\n
Yahya said to obtain a degree from these institutions, people
\nneeded only to pay about Rp 3 million (US$422) or participate in
\nsome seminars.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe some people obtain a degree only after conducting umrah
\n(minor pilgrimage),\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Yahya told The Jakarta Post recently he held a meeting on
\nThursday with rectors of 19 state universities across the country
\nto probe the problem.<\/p>\n
In the meeting, the ministry formed three teams which were
\nassigned to promote an accreditation program, as well as legal
\nand academic requirements for educational institutions to obtain
\nthe accreditation.<\/p>\n
Yahya said he would seek to close the errant institutions or
\nreport them to the police.<\/p>\n
\"In the long term we will propose a bill that will empower the
\nministry to fight these institutions,\" he added. (04)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rectors-told-to-reject-poor-quality-lecturers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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