Universities face imminent closures

SEMARANG: Private universities in the Central Java province have been warned of facing imminent closure due to lack of students.

Widjatmoko, chairman of the Indonesian Private University Association (Aptisi), said there are only 35,000 to 40,000 new graduates from senior high schools in the province wanting to continue their studies, while the private universities there offer up to 45,000 seats.

Moreover, he said, the number of private universities has increased from 100 to 185 over the past few years, but the number of high senior school graduates has not changed much.

"Due to this fact, I am afraid that some private universities could have to close soon," said Widjatmoko, who is a former chairman of Central Java's Aptisi. --Antara