UI rector says he will not compromise with students

JAKARTA (JP): University of Indonesia (UI) rector Asman Budi Santoso said on Wednesday he would not compromise with students refusing to pay extra school fees.

"Those who still refuse to pay the Education Quality Improvement Fund (DPKP) will not be allowed to attend classes. There's already a rule on that," Asman told The Jakarta Post at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.

Students at the university's Salemba campus in Central Jakarta and at the Depok campus began a boycott of classes on Monday to demand the UI rectorate revoke the DPKP, which requires students who entered the university from 1999 onward pay an extra school fee in addition to the Rp 510,000 (US$60) tuition.

The boycotters claim many students cannot afford to pay the extra fee, which is Rp 1 million for students in the medical school, the school of engineering and the school of math and pure sciences; and Rp 750,000 for social science students.

"There is no reason for students not to pay the extra fee because those who cannot afford (the fee) can come to our office and ask for a reduction," Asman said, adding that UI had granted a reduction to 1,785 students this semester for a total of Rp 1.1 billion.

Asman said about 85 percent of the students had already paid the extra fee. "There are only 300 students who still refuse to pay the extra fee, and the number is decreasing."

The UI students executive board claimed about 700 students still had not registered for classes this semester because they were required to pay the extra fee.

As of Wednesday, students were no longer rallying on the Depok campus and classes were being held as usual.

Members of the students executive board held a meeting with the assistant to the UI rector for student affairs, Umar Mansur, at the rectorate office. The meeting ended in a deadlock, as had previous attempts to settle the dispute.

Separately, Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin asked the UI rectorate to resolve the problem.

"There should be a fee which does not cause uneasiness (among the students)," Yahya said following the opening of a scientific research competition for children at the Wisata Hotel in Central Jakarta.

The director general for higher education, Satryo Soemantri, said earlier he had instructed the inspector general of the ministry to conduct an audit to determine whether the extra fee should be applied to students. (jaw)