Economic crisis upsets students

KENDARI, South East Sulawesi: Out of 10,492 Haluoleo University students, 2,098 have discontinued their studies.

The university's deputy rector in charge of student affairs, La Ode M. Arsyad Teno, said Thursday no students had given a reason.

But he strongly believed the monetary crisis was the main factor for the students dropping out.

"Their parents must have prioritized paying for daily food rather that their children's studies. Given the soaring prices of basic commodities, I think school tuition fees were not top of their lists," he said.

La Ode said the university had not increased tuition fees.

"I don't know whether the 2,000 students will really end their studies," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

According to him, the students failed to meet the deadline to register for the next 1997/1998 term.

"And officially, there are only 100 students who requested academic leave," he said.

La Ode said the students would not be accepted back into the university if they failed to return before three years had passed. (09)