IPB accepts 856 new students

BOGOR: The Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) will admit 856 new students for the 2004/2005 academic year through its regular selection process, an increase from the 803 students who were accepted the previous year.

IPB spokeswoman Henny Windarti said on Wednesday the institute would also admit 2,043 new students outside of the selection process, due to their high school academic achievement. Last year, 2,287 were admitted in this category.

The institute will also accept 90 additional students from outside Java, which is a separate admittance category.

Student enrollment officer M. Prayitna Sobari said high school graduates could obtain registration forms for a nominal fee beginning June 21 at the IPB Baranangsiang campus. The deadline for completed forms is July 10.

Entrance exams are scheduled for July 14 and July 15, with the list of passing students to be published on Aug. 13 in select dailies. -- Antara

;JP;YAN;BERITAJAKARTA; ANPAj..r.. Great-fire-department Fire dept records 1,000 fires yearly JP/8/GREAT

Fire dept records 1,000 fires yearly

JAKARTA: The Jakarta Fire Department recorded an annual average of 800 to 1,000 fires over the last five years that have resulted in material losses of Rp 552.23 billion (US$58.75 million) and killed 132 residents and 15 firefighters.

Fire chief Johnny Pangaribuan said during a media gathering on Tuesday that most fires were caused by human error and carelessness such as exploding gas stoves, short circuits, candles and cigarette butts.

"Our limited equipment and human resources has made the department unable to handle all fires immediately," he said as quoted on the official city website, beritajakarta.com.

Johnny again stressed that firemen usually had great difficulty accessing the site of fires, as they occur mostly in densely populated areas with narrow alleys.

Johnny reiterated his call on businesspeople to help provide fire extinguishers and other safety equipment. -- JP