UI's special funds prevent dropout

JAKARTA (JP): The University of Indonesia guarantees that none of its student will have to drop out because of financial problems, its rector Asman Boedisantoso R. stated on Saturday.

Asman said that the university has reserved funds from the Social Safety Net program to help students who are short of money.

He made the statement after a ceremony to mark the graduation of 2,429 undergraduate (S1 program) students and the welcoming of 5,201 new students into the program, Antara reported.

Eighty cum laude graduates received Rp 1 million each.

The rector admitted that the university had some drop outs, but this was either because the students did not have the ability to keep up with their studies, were suffering from stress or had committed major violations of university rules, including skipping lectures.

He said that since the economic crisis broke out in 1998, the UI had been providing assistance in respect of living costs and tutorial fees for 3,000 students.

This could take the form of allowances, the opportunity to work part time, or the chance to participate in research at the university.

Besides receiving funds under the Social Safety Net program, UI also received some financial assistance from scholarship foundations and other parties.