No new private social sciences universities allowed

No new private social sciences universities allowed

JAKARTA (JP): The coordinating office for Jakarta's private
universities will freeze the establishment of new private
universities with social science programs next month.

Arjatmo Tjokronegoro, head of the office, told reporters on
Saturday that only new universities dealing with exact sciences
will be allowed to open if they are equipped with their own
supporting facilities, including laboratories, and with the
provision that they hire their own lecturers.

Speaking at a ceremony announcing a decree on the
establishment of new universities from the Directorate General of
Higher Level Education, Arjatmo said the decision was made on
because many social science universities are already operating in
the city.

Arjatmo explained that out of the 198 private universities
registered by his office, 90 percent have social science
programs, especially economics, law and computerization.

"Due to the saturated condition, many universities with such
programs, particularly those with limited budgets, find
difficulties in getting new students," he said.

Competition

If new universities are allowed to be built, there will be a
kind of unhealthy competition in which small universities will be
forced to compete with more established universities, he said.

Despite the absence of irrefutable data, Arjatmo was sure that
many small-scale universities are already facing difficulties.

"Many certificates coming to my desk for authorization are
from famous universities. So what's wrong with the small-scale
universities?" he asked.

Arjatmo said that his office will not take any actions against
the small-scale universities, many of which have faced shortages
of students.

The public has the right to choose the universities they want
to study at, he said, adding that if a university can't provide
proper facilities, people won't choose them.

"My office doesn't need to shut down the ailing universities
because they will vanish naturally," he added.

Arjatmo also said that the coordinating office will not give
private universities equal status with the state-owned ones if
they fail to provide basic facilities. (05)