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)