UI to ensure education for penniless students<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): University of Indonesia (UI) rector Asman
\nBoedisantoso vowed on Saturday to ensure the continuation of
\neducation for its less privileged students despite its limited
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
"We'll try our best to ensure that no students drop out of
\nschool because of financial problems," he told reporters after
\nleading a graduation ceremony of UI's 2,266 undergraduate
\nstudents, held at its Depok campus.<\/p>\n
He said due to the economic crisis, the university was facing
\nfinancial problems because the government had decided to reduce
\nthe budget for UI's educational activities starting in April this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The government allocated Rp 9.9 billion (US$1.32 million) this
\nyear from Rp 14.2 billion last year to support its educational
\nactivities. The budget reduction was mainly on the operational
\nfund, which amounted to Rp 3.6 billion last year.<\/p>\n
Asman said he personally understood the students' financial
\nsituation, but demanded they needed to understand the
\nuniversity's financial situation, too.<\/p>\n
"The students pay $80 to enjoy $1,100 worth of education," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The rector said this had forced the university to ask some
\n2,500 teaching staff members to contribute Rp 3 million each from
\ntheir annual wages to help the students.<\/p>\n
He especially appreciated the teachers' dedication in
\ncontinuing the education of the students, since "each teacher's
\nbasic monthly earnings is only Rp 180,000".<\/p>\n
With such a sacrifice, he said, the university could help
\nfinance the educational expenses of the students with its
\n"Student Safety Net program".<\/p>\n
He said the university managed to allocate Rp 2.27 billion
\nlast year to help 3,795 students through the program, and this
\nyear UI expected to raise Rp 2.5 billion to help 4,059 students.<\/p>\n
"We will try our best to make sure those talented students
\nfinish their education, despite our financial limitations," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Asman pledged that the problem would not affect the
\nperformance of its graduate students who, he said, ranked fourth
\nin the Asia-Pacific region.<\/p>\n
"But we rank far below at 79, in terms of the university's
\ntotal financial revenue," he said.<\/p>\n
He said UI is planning to adopt "educational autonomy" by the
\nyear 2009. The plans will include seeking the possibility of
\nestablishing a cooperation with companies and international
\ndonors, mainly for a human resources development program for its
\nteaching staff.<\/p>\n
The university has been cooperating with various countries,
\nincluding Japan and Australia.<\/p>\n
"We'll hold talks with donor countries to obtain grants," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The graduation ceremony also saw some 50 students stage a
\ndemonstration in front of the university's bus terminal to
\nprotest the university's policy which requires students to pay Rp
\n750,000 for its educational development program and Rp 475,000
\nfor tuition fees per semester.<\/p>\n
Including administration fees, students are required to pay Rp
\n1,260,000 per semester. (06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ui-to-ensure-education-for-penniless-students-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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