State universities unprepared for 2 entrance exams

Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Leaders of state universities are less than enthused about a government plan to increase the number of enrollment tests to their institutions of higher learning to twice a year.

While acknowledging that the idea is commendable, administrators and others doubt its feasibility, as state universities have yet to develop adequate facilities, teaching staff and overall funding.

Some rectors proposed that the government address the important shortcomings -- especially the funding -- first, before implementing the move.

Otherwise, they said, the noble plan may backfire.

Haris Mudjiman, rector of the Surakarta-based Sebelas Maret University said that, with entrance tests taking place twice a year, state colleges will have to double their capacity.

"It would definitely affect the number of teaching staff and facilities, including libraries and laboratories -- whereas our existing resources are minimal," Haris told Antara.

The plan to double the number of times for state university entrance tests to be administered, was announced by Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fadjar last week.

It is expected to allow better opportunities for high school graduates to pursue higher education degrees and speed up the improvement of human resources at the national level.

The plan, however, has yet to be discussed with rectors to seek input as to whether it can start in September, 2002 for the first test, and in January of the next year for the second.

Ponpon S. Idjradinata, deputy rector of Padjajaran University in Bandung doubted that his university would be ready to implement the program so soon.

"We have no adequate human resources, infrastructure and facility ready," Ponpon told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

Padjadjaran University, he said, has already employed all the facilities it has to accommodate its student body of 45,000.

Capacity, though, is but one of many problems. The availability of qualified teaching staff is another major headache for most state universities.

Sutjipto, rector of Jakarta State University, said that shortages in teaching have been a non-stop problem.

His university currently employs 825 teachers for its 14,000 students. Every year, he said, around 20 teachers reach retirement age. But at the same time, the university only gets about 10 teachers every year to fill their place.

Ponpon told of a similar situation. Of the 1,800 teachers, Padjajaran University is in need of 60 new teachers to replace its retiring staff; so far, though, it has gotten only 30.

The uneven teacher-to-student ratio is feared to affect the quality of education.

"Teachers will not have time to refresh their knowledge because they spend their entire year teaching," Ponpon remarked.

One of their top problems, however, is finance.

Should the policy be implemented, state universities will require more money to meet basic operational costs. Currently, they rely heavily on government subsidies which, even now, do not fully cover their needs.

John Tafbu Ritonga, deputy rector of Medan-based North Sumatra University, suggested that the government would have to jack up the budget for education before implementing the policy.

Government spending for education now only makes up one percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It was far the below 4.5 to 7 percent spent in developed countries, and 2.5 to 7.5 percent in other developing countries.

"Even with once a year state entrance tests, many universities are struggling to run their universities due to the lack of funds," he said.

Sutjipto, however, suggested that universities be allowed to tap into other financial resources. Since a state university is not a state-owned enterprise, he said, one immediate solution would be to increase student fees.

"But this will meet resistance from students and public," he warned.