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)