UGM not the oldest

In a report published by The Jakarta Post on Feb. 9, on Australian Prime Minister John Howard's visit to Yogyakarta, it is mentioned that Gadjah Mada University (UGM) is the oldest university in Indonesia.

I would like to make a correction by informing that the oldest university in Indonesia is Perguruan Tinggi Negeri Klaten (Klaten State Higher Learning Institute) in Klaten, a city located between Yogyakarta and Surakarta. Established on Mar. 5, 1946, it comprised departments of medicine, chemistry, as well as having a school of agriculture and veterinary science. As for myself, I am an alumnus of the 1947 class. Today, only about 200 alumni are still alive.

The institute was closed on Dec. 19, 1948, when the Dutch army attacked some areas of the Republic of Indonesia. Most of the students joined guerrilla units or the Indonesian Red Cross.

After UGM opened in Yogyakarta, some of these students continued their education at this university.

I would also like to add that the first dean of UGM, Prof. Dr. Sardjito, was also the dean of the institute in Klaten.

SUNARTO PRAWIROSUJANTO

Jakarta

Note: UGM is the oldest university in the country still in existence.

--Editor