Students protest additional fee

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: Some 1,000 freshmen of the state Soedirman University here staged a protest on Friday against an additional fee of Rp 500,000 (US$55.37) each that has been levied.

"We protest and object to the new decision. This is a state university, how could it ask for fees as high as those of private universities?" asked Amin, one of the new students.

"Rp 500,000 is a large amount for us."

The students' protest won support from the Student Forum for Transformation (Format). Format coordinator Slamet Tohirin told the press that his forum strongly opposed the incremental fees.

He said that new students had agreed not to pay any of the additional fees.

Meanwhile, rector's assistant in charge of student administration Komari confirmed that the university needed more cash to improve facilities in the campus.

"The money will be spent to upgrade facilities and education infrastructure in the campus," he said, adding that the students of the previous year were also required to pay the incremental fee.

"The new students in last year's entry also paid Rp 500,000 and they staged no protest," he said. (45/08)