UI rector says he will not compromise with students
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)