Open University to stay in East Timor

JAKARTA (JP): East Timorese will be allowed to continue studying in the Open University if members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) endorse the Aug. 30 poll result in favor of separation, its rector said on Monday.

Bambang Sujiatmo said East Timor's separation from the country would not affect East Timorese students' enrollment in the university because it allowed foreign students.

"We accept foreign students. It's not a problem," he said.

About 360,000 students take the long-distance courses nationwide, with 4,373 of them living in East Timor.

The university would continue serving the East Timorese students in the event the territory obtained independence, the rector said.

"There will be no procedural problems for foreign students to join the Open University. There is nothing unusual," Bambang said after a ceremony marking the institution's 15th anniversary at the university campus in Pondok Cabe subdistrict, South Jakarta, on Monday.

He said examinations for East Timorese students were postponed until calm returned to the area.

"It's now impossible to conduct the exams. We'll have to wait, we'll probably need protection from security personnel." (03)