UGM remains a people's university

UGM remains a people's university

YOGYAKARTA: Gadjah Mada University (UGM) has said most of its
2003/2004 new students come from low-and middle-income families,
reconfirming itself to remain the people's university.

The announcement was to play down controversies over state
universities becoming commercial as they offered seats to
students from wealthy families.

"Around 77 percent of all the new students who have registered
themselves with Gadjah Mada come from families with an average
income of Rp 1,350,000 per month. They pay up to Rp 5 million for
admission fees, while in some cases the fees are waived," said
Tony Atyanto Dharoko, assistant to the UGM deputy rector
overseeing educational operations and quality control.

He said only some 20 percent of students paid up to Rp 15
million for admission fees, nearly 2 percent were charged Rp 25
million, and the rest paid between Rp 30 million and Rp 100
million.

"No one paid above Rp 100 million for admission fees," said
Tony, adding that only six students so far were recorded to have
paid between Rp 70 million and Rp 100 million.

He said students from poor families were welcome to ask for
either partial or full exemption from the admission fee or
submitted requests for scholarships.

UGM has accepted 4,180 new students through its own admission
test, the results of which were announced last May. Some 76,000
students attended the test.

Around 1,344 other students were accepted through the national
admission test, the results of which were announced on Monday.
Almost 22,500 students chose UGM when attending the test. --JP

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ANPAa..r..
Across-Golkar
Golkar accused of extorting regent
JP/5/Golkar

Golkar accused of extorting regent

MUARA TEWEH, Central Kalimantan: North Barito Regent
Badaruddin in Central Kalimantan has accused the Golkar Party of
"deceiving" him in his bid for reelection.

"I sent Rp 200 million to the provincial chapter of Golkar on
July 7, 2003 in order for the party to support me in the regental
election. But it has decided not to back me," he said here on
Monday.

Badaruddin said he was disappointed by the decision made in a
Golkar meeting on Saturday.

Asked why he gave the Golkar the money, he said that based on
the political party law, personal donations must not exceed Rp
200 million each.

Badaruddin said he gave the donation to meet the party
requirements, which were stated when its local leaders
interviewed him and other candidates.

He demanded that Golkar return the money. --Antara

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ANPAa..r..
Across-Ambon
Peace education for Maluku victims
JP/5/Ambon

Peace education for Maluku victims

AMBON, Maluku: Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
grouped in the Humanitarian Association for Maluku (Humanum) have
launched a peace education program for the children of victims of
the four-year religious conflict that erupted in 1999.

The program aims to free the children from the trauma they
experienced during the fighting, which first broke out on Jan 19,
1999, Humanum coordinator George Corputty said.

"This peace education will hopefully encourage the children to
continue their studies and enjoy their childhood," he said.

Unlike normal methods of teaching, the peace education program
focuses on singing, playing and sharing the children's feeling,
he said on Monday.

At least 846 children, aged between 6 and 16 from nine refugee
camps on Ambon island have been taking part in the program over
the past few months.

Corputty said the funding for the program came from the people
and non-governmental organizations committed to peace, including
foreign ones, he said.

"The funding is not big as volunteers and NGO activists are
not teachers but friends who are ready to play with and tell the
children stories," he said.

Corputty however did not mention the size of the funding
needed for the program. --Antara