University says it had choice but to raise fees<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Bogor\/Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
University of Indonesia (UI) has dismissed the recent protest
\nstaged students over what they called costly admission fees,
\nsaying the decision was a consequence of its status as an
\nautonomous institution.<\/p>\n
As of this year, new students at UI must pay an admission fee
\nof between Rp 5 million (US$562) and Rp 25 million. In addition,
\nthose taking natural sciences pay a tuition fee of Rp 1.475
\nmillion per semester and those majoring in social sciences, Rp
\n1.275 million a semester.<\/p>\n
UI director of academic affairs Muhammad Anis said the
\nuniversity had decided to raise admission fees as the annual
\nsubsidy from the government, which amounts to Rp 76 billion, was
\nnot enough to cover the cost of maintaining buildings and other
\ninfrastructure, and paying employees.<\/p>\n
Article 24 of Law No. 20\/2003 on the national education system
\nallows universities to collect public funds and manage
\nthemselves.<\/p>\n
Effective this year, a UI student needs between Rp 2.5 million
\nto Rp 9.2 million annually, depending on their choice of study.
\nStudents may have their entrance fee waived if they submit a
\nletter from their subdistrict chief stating that they come from a
\npoor family. They must enclose their parents' salary slips and
\nthe last three month's electricity bills to be eligible for
\nspecial consideration.<\/p>\n
Like other state universities, the UI employs qualified
\nlecturers and professors. Anis said the UI also provided students
\nwith computers, laboratories and research facilities.<\/p>\n
"We understand the students' protest, but we have no choice.
\nWe need to stay up to date in order to compete with other
\nuniversities," said Anis, citing the high cost of computers and
\nother equipment.<\/p>\n
UI students pay more than those at the Bogor Institute of
\nAgriculture (IPB) in West Java, who pay between Rp 2.5 million
\nand Rp 3.3 million per year. The IPB receives a government
\nsubsidy of Rp 120 billion a year, allowing it to scrap admission
\nfees. It only charge new students a building maintenance fee of
\nbetween Rp 100,000 and Rp 3 million.<\/p>\n
However, when compared to students of Gadjah Mada University
\n(UGM) in Yogyakarta, Central Java, the cost of education at the
\nUI is slightly lower.<\/p>\n
Like the UI, the UGM obliges students to pay admission fees of
\nup to Rp 20 million. Aside from a fixed tuition fee amounting to
\nRp 500,000 per semester, UGM students of natural sciences have to
\npay Rp 75,000 per credit, and social science students, Rp 65,000
\nper credit.<\/p>\n
UGM students' yearly fees range from Rp 3.52 million to Rp
\n9.15 million.<\/p>\n
Protests have not been heard from students of the UGM -- the
\ncountry's oldest state university -- over the cost of education
\nthere.<\/p>\n
When compared to students of private universities, which do
\nnot enjoy a government subsidy, UI students pay less.<\/p>\n
New students of Trisakti University in Grogol, West Jakarta,
\nfor example, have to pay admission fees ranging from Rp 6.5
\nmillion to Rp 45 million, depending on the results of their
\nentrance tests and the schools they go to.<\/p>\n
They pay a total of between Rp 10 million and Rp 24 million
\nper year -- depending on their majors -- as they are charged
\nfixed tuition fees of between Rp 1.75 million and Rp 4 million
\nper semester, plus Rp 110,000 for each credit unit they take.<\/p>\n
Admission fees at another private university, Atma Jaya, range
\nfrom between Rp 6.5 million and Rp 55 million, depending on the
\nresults of a student's entrance test. In total students pay
\nbetween Rp 7 million and Rp 23 million per year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/university-says-it-had-choice-but-to-raise-fees-1447893297",
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