Students against high tuition

Students against high tuition

From Koran Tempo

The Student Executive Body of the University of Indonesia (UI) has been protesting admission fees for new students by living in tents on the UI campus in Depok, West Java, since July 4 (Tempo Interaktif, Aug. 4).

Actually, the students began the action when tuition was increased from Rp 500,000 to between Rp 1.5 million and Rp 2 million. Talks have been held with UI authorities, the board of trustees, the national education ministry and the House of Representatives.

The students also joined UI's funding evaluation team, set up an educational working group, organized workshops and sought other solutions to rising fees, until they quit the team because their proposals were turned down.

Tuition at UI keeps rising, ranging from Rp 5 million to Rp 25 million, excluding a monthly educational fee of Rp 1.4 million. Student delegates were sent to negotiate with the rector's staff on July 26, which was followed by a demonstration two days later.

On Aug. 3, students offered to pay an additional "voluntary contribution", which would be an unlimited amount from those who could afford to donate, while returning to UI's originally low tuition. This proposal was also rejected.

ENDAH MULYANI Depok, West Java