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."