Trisakti University backs change in education law

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)