Students seek increase in education budget<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): About 60 students from the University of
\nIndonesia visited the House of Representatives yesterday
\ndemanding an increase in the national education budget.<\/p>\n
The students also called on the House to ensure transparency
\nin the calculation of the education component of the budget.<\/p>\n
Received by members of both the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nand Golkar factions in the House, the students said that
\nIndonesia's small budget allocation for education had caused
\nsharp increases in university fees each year.<\/p>\n
One of the protesters told The Jakarta Post that in 1991
\nstudents paid Rp 210,000 (US$92) per semester, while in 1994 the
\nfee was Rp 400,000 and, in 1995, Rp 475,000.<\/p>\n
"For new students, that amount does not include additional
\nmoney for, among other things, jackets and other academic
\nexpenses," the student said.<\/p>\n
The protesters, all wearing yellow jackets, also asked for
\nimprovements in the quality of educational facilities. They asked
\nfor an increase in the salaries of teaching staff in all
\neducational institutions.<\/p>\n
Led by Donny Ardyanto, the students urged the government to
\nstop collusion, manipulation and corruption in the educational
\nsector and to stop spending money on unimportant things.<\/p>\n
The students did not succeed in their goal of meeting with the
\nHouse's Commissions IV and IX, responsible for budget supervision
\nand education respectively.<\/p>\n
After the students had waited for more than two hours,
\nSukowaluyo Mintorahardjo, Sabam Sirait, S.G.B. Tampubolon, Nana
\nMulyana Sukanta and Popo Sonadar Haroen of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party received the students.<\/p>\n
Sukowaluyo said the students' demands mirrored exactly his
\nparty's frequent calls for the education budget to be increased.
\nAt present, education spending accounts for only 4.9 percent of
\nthe State Budget.<\/p>\n
"In 1966, the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly
\nplanned to allocate 25 percent of the budget for education," he
\nsaid. "Unfortunately, until today the government has not been
\nable to provide that much."<\/p>\n
Sabam Sirait said that in 1969 Slamet Imam Santoso, a
\nprofessor of economics, argued that if the education budget were
\nnot increased to 25 percent of the national budget, Indonesians
\nwould have be left behind by other countries.<\/p>\n
The students were later received by Palar Batubara, Sih
\nWaloeyo, Moh. Hatta Mustafa and S.M. Taufiq Thaib of the ruling
\nGolkar faction.<\/p>\n
Campus activist Hertiyoso told The Post that yesterday's
\nprotest was the second such demonstration by the students in
\nsupport of improvements to the Indonesian education system. He
\nsaid the first such demonstration had been held at the University
\nof Indonesia campus two months ago. (05\/09\/10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-seek-increase-in-education-budget-1447893297",
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