Trisakti University backs change in education law

JAKARTA (JP): Students and faculty from Trisakti University have joined the chorus of calls for revisions in the national education law to allow institutions of higher learning to be more autonomous and democratic.

Chairuman Armia, dean of the university's school of economics, criticized yesterday the law and all rulings on the education system, which place rectors as the single authoritative power on campus and omit student participation in making campus policies.

"The 1989 national education law, and rulings on the education system and student organizations, must be amended to free the campus from government interference and return the campus to its original function as a civitas academica (academic society)."

He said rectors and faculty deans should not be involved in university and faculty senates whose main task was to control rectors' policies and decisions.

"Exacerbating this situation is that students and their organizations are not involved in making policies and, thus, this situation has affected the higher learning institution's threefold academic mission in education, research and social development."

Chairuman dismissed the current education system as only fit to produce mediocre job seekers, not high quality graduates.

"Indonesia needs... job creators and employers who have strong entrepreneurship."

Julianto Hendro Cahyono, chairman of the university's student senate, said the government should lift its ruling on the national education system, issued in 1990, and ministerial decree No. 155/1998 which allow the authorities to interfere in universities' internal affairs, including through use of military intervention.

He said authorities should be permitted to interfere in matters involving universities only if asked and for emergencies such as fires and riots.

Budi Santoso, an economics lecturer at the university, said universities should have their own student board whose main task would be to make guidelines and education policies that should be complied with by rectors in running the education system.

He said the student council, whose members represent students and faculty, including deans and rectors, should also extend a control function to monitor all education, political and social activities on campus.

"With the student council, there will be a democratic division of power in campus between students, rectors and university owners, or foundations."

Chairuman said the university would organize a two-day seminar next Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the education reform.

He said the seminar, scheduled to be opened by Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono, would feature such noted education experts as Bambang Suhendro, J. Drost and Kirti Peniwati. (rms)