Protest against adult education program goes on

JAKARTA (JP) : Students of the University of Indonesia's School of Social and Political Sciences held another protest rally yesterday over the school's controversial adult education program.

The noisy demonstration of about 300 students began with a march around the campus, with nine students wearing yellow UI jackets embroidered with money to symbolize what they say is the commercialization of the program.

The procession was followed by forceful speeches protesting against the program which, they say, administers a much simpler entrance exam than that which ordinary students must sit for.

Some of the participants unfurled banners reading Bukan pabrik, bukan pasar, ini kampus, bung! (Not a factory, not a market, this is a campus, man!) and Selamat Datang Mahasiswa Ekstension, Anda Ditipu! (Welcome, Extension Students, You've been Cheated!).

The protesters criticized program's enrollment procedures. They said the program was accepting fresh high school graduates, while it is supposed to accept only applicants with work experience or with a lower-level academic degree. They said the administration of the program contravenes a ruling of the ministry of education and culture, which stipulates that the extension program is for workers who need additional knowledge.

"We are not protesting against the idea of the extension program. What we oppose is the practice of accepting fresh high school graduates without any test," said Oni Pujiati, a communications student.

"Even private universities, like Trisakti University, have an enrollment test for students entering their extension programs. If this goes on University of Indonesia is liable to be outclassed by private universities," she added.

The program admitted 1,080 students without any entrance test at all. Regular undergraduate students at the university are required to pass a highly competitive national state college exam to gain admission.

"The entrance procedure needs reevaluating. Quantity alone cannot be useful to society," said student activist Wasi Gede.

Gede also criticized the running of the courses offered by the program. "How can they run it if there aren't enough classrooms?" he asked.

The students' demonstration was backed up by official protest letters from two of the program's eight departments. While the other departments have yet to comment, lecturers are reportedly in agreement that the program has made a serious mistake by not requiring entrants to pass an admission exam.

The sociology department, which provides several compulsory classes for the program's students, said in its letter that the poor administration of the school's extension program has tainted the university's reputation as a prestigious educational institution.

The university's social welfare department described the program as a 'pitiful thing.'

Neither the school's dean nor any of the program's administrators could be reached for comment yesterday. But the dean has reportedly said he is willing to discuss the matter with selected students tomorrow.

"We invite all students to participate in the discussion. This matter is not only the concern of a particular group of students. It concerns all students," protester Budi Arie Setiadi said. (06)