UI's adult education program protested
UI's adult education program protested
JAKARTA (JP): Students in the University of Indonesia's School
of Social and Political Sciences (Fisip UI) are protesting the
school's continuing adult education program, which administers a
simpler entrance exam for extension students.
The students, protesting since Tuesday, received additional
moral support on Thursday from several lecturers, who also
questioned the program.
Several students, representing the 400 students who signed a
petition, took turns guarding the tent that symbolizes their
grievances.
They have sent letters to the school dean to complain about
the recently-graduated high school students that are taking
advantage of the simpler requirements to get into the extension
program.
A number of state universities offer extension programs, at
the undergraduate level, for working people who want to get a
university degree without having to pass the standard university
entrance tests. Their classes usually begin after the regular
undergraduate programs end in the afternoon.
A minimum of 110 credits from previous schooling or a
certificate stating the person's work experience, normal
requirements for state university admission, are not necessary
for Fisip UI's adult education program.
Fisip UI accepted 1,080 extension students this year, over
four times the number accepted at the regular school of social
and political sciences.
"The school is not ready to have them here," said one young
lecturer. "Most lecturers don't know how to prepare classes for
them. And a lot of the lecturers want to quit," he said.
The students are also protesting a plan to give extension
students the same rights as regular undergraduate students. "The
rights and duties of extension students should not be the same,"
alleged Nono Marijono, a student protester.
Director General of High Education Bambang Soehendro explained
on Thursday that the extension program has to be kept apart from
the regular program. "Any extension program should not disturb
regular undergraduate programs."
According to Andi Rahman, the spokesman of Fisip UI's student
representative assembly, the camp strike will go on until the
school dean is willing to discuss the matter with all of the
students. "We demand an open forum because the program has
disturbed the whole academic community." (06/05)