Universities and misleading ads

From Kompas

Advertisements of various private universities and colleges seeking senior high school students are published in many papers and magazines.

Although those private universities or colleges, whose names we sometimes never hear of, are usually the second choice for the students (if they cannot enter state universities), they regularly campaign on their lofty credentials. They do not attach complete information in the advertisements which is actually badly needed by both students and their parents.

The problem is the candidates never fully know the quality of the universities until they actually become students of the universities.

Take for example, a private university advertisement in Kompas daily recently which stated that it offered a 'special quality'. But the ad didn't explain what that was. No wonder, the university will also produce a 'special' student.

I wonder whether such a university places a higher priority on money or high standards?

Why don't the authorities and educators give complete information by printing a guidebook of undergraduate or graduate degrees which are offered by both private and state universities. Furthermore, the mass media can set up a special column which provides details about all universities and colleges and how to get a ticket into one of them.

This is important for students, especially those who are not residents of the cities where the colleges are located, to choose the right college.

One thing which we should remember is that the students who come from Indonesia's middle class - the new consumers who haven't thought in a critical way - will be fooled by the smart people (the owners of private universities) by ignoring the required information.

HERO GUNTORO

Salatiga, Central Java