Private universities suffering
Private universities suffering
Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post/Padang
The presence of extension programs run by state universities here
has discouraged students from entering private universities,
private university officials have complained.
"There are 77 private universities in West Sumatra, and at
every meeting, their managements complain about the nonregular
programs at state universities for the drop in the number of
students enrolling at private universities," said Novirman
Jamarun, a coordinator of Private Universities Coordinating Board
which is in charge of West Sumatra, Riau and Jambi regions.
According to Director General of Higher Education Decree No.
28, 2002 on running regular and nonregular programs at state
universities, the state universities can only run nonregular
programs for part-time students taking nine credit units per
semester at the most. Under the regulation, the nonregular
program -- better known as the extension program -- is aimed at
working people.
However, in the last two years, the two main state
universities in Padang -- Andalas University and Padang State
University -- have also taken fresh high school graduates in
their extension program.
"This practice really affects private universities. Students,
who do not pass the entrance test for state universities, will
then prefer to take an extension program at the state
universities," Novirman said.
By doing this, he added, the students will still get a diploma
from the state universities and moreover, the learning process is
not unlike the regular program. In this case, private
universities would only be a last choice.
He said that as a coordinator, he has no authority over state
universities and was only capable of delivering their objection
to the director general.
"But to this day, there have been no sanctions against state
universities opening extension programs," he said.
Director General of Higher Education, Satryo Soemantri
Brodjonegoro, said in Padang last month that state universities
had violated regulations by running extension programs.
"This program is intended for working people, not for fresh
graduates of high school. We will impose sanctions on state
universities that violate the regulation," he said.
The presence of extension programs at state universities have
badly hit private universities that have similar regular study
programs.
At Bung Hatta University, for instance, 6,700 students
registered to the university in 2000, of which 3,000 were
accepted. But since the extension program was opened, the
applicants dropped to 4,000 in 2002 and 2,500 in 2004.
"The drop reached 40 percent. This year, 600 students have
registered from our target of 1,500 students. This is of great
concern," said university rector Yunazar Manjang.
He feared that with low number of students wishing to study at
Bung Hatta University, the selection process would be loose thus
affecting the quality of the university's students.
This year, Andalas University will receive 1,200 students for
its 20 extension programs, while Padang State University will
take 2,000 students for its extension programs. Most of the new
students are fresh high school graduates.
Private universities routinely blame the extension programs
that have been opened at state universities across the country,
for the decline in the number of new students, according to
Bahrul Amin, third assistant of Padang State University's School
of Engineering.
"If private universities experience a decline in the number of
students interested to study there, they then should work to
improve the quality of education. If they have good quality
education, students will go there because in term of expenses,
the cost of the extension program at state universities and the
regular program at private universities is the same."