Students reject school fee hikes

BANDUNG: Dozens of students of Padjadjaran University (Unpad) protested on Friday against increases of up to 60 percent in tuition and laboratory fees.

With the new policy, new students will be charged between Rp 1.2 million and Rp 1.5 million (US$157.90) in laboratory fees, for example.

"While many of the students' parents lost their jobs during the recession, the university is imposing high education fees," said Nasrul of Unpad's Student Union.

Separately, university spokesman Hadi Suprapto Arifin defended the policy, saying the university's costs had increased and it was therefore necessary to raise the fees. -- JP