Universities see fewer students admitted<\/p>\n
Rizky KD Ntoma, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The number of students passing the National State University
\nAdmission Test (SPMB) nationwide dropped from 81,471 last year to
\n78,841 this year.<\/p>\n
SPMB committee secretary Soesmalijah Soewondo said on Monday
\nthat the number of students applying to sit the SPMB also dropped
\nfrom 398,589 last year to around 352,000 this year.<\/p>\n
"Fewer participants sat this year's test. Maybe they sat the
\nspecial admission tests which were held before high school
\ngraduation by some state universities, like Yogyakarta's Gadjah
\nMada University (UGM)," she said.<\/p>\n
Of the 78,841 students, some 36,841 opted for social sciences
\nwhile the rest took natural sciences.<\/p>\n
The SPMB results were announced on Monday, with the
\nannouncement being distributed for free at the University of
\nIndonesia (UI) campus in Salemba, Central Jakarta, and the State
\nUniversity of Jakarta (UNJ) in Rawamangun, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Soesmalijah said that over the last four years, the committee
\nhas also given awarded scholarships to around 3,000 students from
\nlow-income families across the country.<\/p>\n
"However, of the 2,361 students interested in the program only
\n792 students passed the exams and were given full scholarships
\nfor a year. The students didn't have to pay for the admission
\ntest. We also provided them with transportation expenses and
\nallowances," she said.<\/p>\n
These students were supposed to find scholarships on their own
\nfrom companies or the government after one year.<\/p>\n
Students admitted to UI will have to pay between Rp 1.75
\nmillion (US$206) and Rp 2 million, including the cost of a
\ncollege jacket, student ID card, and first semester fees.<\/p>\n
In private universities, new students are required to pay
\nadmission fees of between Rp 5 million and Rp 50 million during
\ntheir first semester, depending on the subject. This does not
\ninclude the semester fee, which normally runs to at least Rp 2.5
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
During the announcement, only a few students were to be seen
\non the UI and UNJ campuses as many had already checked their
\nresults on the internet, where the results were posted on Sunday
\nat 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Over the last three years, the announcement has been made
\nthrough the internet, local newspapers and the telephone texting
\nservice.<\/p>\n
For one student, Monday's announcement brought the same news
\nas last year's.<\/p>\n
"I failed last year and again this year. I'll try again next
\nyear. I won't give up. I'll take an intensive course to prepare
\nmyself better for next year," said Paul, who is currently
\nstudying at privately-run Bina Sarana Informatika college.<\/p>\n
Paul had applied for UI school of nursing and the Bandung
\nInstitute of Technology (ITB) school of mathematics this year.<\/p>\n
He said that he was very nervous during the test, not only
\nbecause of its level of difficulty but also the limited time
\nallowed.<\/p>\n
"Of course I was nervous. I wish they would give us longer,"
\nhe sighed.<\/p>\n
By contrast, Adi Raharjo, who was admitted at the UNJ school
\nof engineering, was over the moon.<\/p>\n
"I'm so happy ... That's it. I won't have to take another test
\nnext year," he said laughing.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/universities-see-fewer-students-admitted-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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