Students walk pass the sign of Purnama Secretary and Management Academy Teachers Training College (STKIP) in Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta, Thursday (12/10). Based on data from the Research, Technology and Education Ministry, Purnama Secretary and Management Academy is among universities with a “closed” status.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – University students are the party losing most because of the poor management of universities, which has led to some universities having their operation licenses revoked. The losses in question are in the form of lengthy study time, higher costs and psychological trauma.
The executive secretary of Area IV (West Java) of the Private University Coordination group, Subahi Idris, said the closing down of private universities must be followed by measures to ease the losses suffered by affected students. The students need to be assisted in finding a new private university with a study program that is in line with the one they took at their previous university. In this transitional period, the foundation of the initial university is obligated to issue an academic transcript and recommendation letter.
“Students are victims, and things must not be made difficult for them. They are moving not by choice, but because there is a problem with their university,” said Subahi on Friday (13/10).
The fate of around 6,400 former East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) PGRI University students remain uncertain following an internal conflict at their university, which started back in 2013. In June 2017, the operational license of the private university was revoked by the Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry. The university is one of 20 universities that had their operational permits revoked in the 2016-2017 period.
After revoking the operational licenses of those universities, the Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry activated two new universities in NTT. According to NTT Social Affairs Agency head Barthol Badar, the students can choose between the two as the place for them to resume their education. The two new universities are Aryasatya Deo Muri University and NTT Teacher Unity 45 University.
Rafael Rinta, 27, a former PGRI NTT student, said that some former PGRI students were reluctant to resume their study at one of the two universities offered, due to concern about the validity of their university certificate. “We need an explanation and a guarantee, so that we do not become victims for a second time,” he said.
Mailani Yunus, who coordinates the Forum of Former PGRI NTT Kupang Students, said the forum was urging the education institution foundation (YPLP) behind PGRI NTT University to bear all the costs arising from the revocation of the operation permit of PGRI University.This demand refers to a decree on operational permit revocation by the Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry from June 2017, stipulating that the university’s foundation is responsible for the effects caused by the permit revocation.
The head of PGRI NTT University’s YPLP, Suleman Radja, said the problem regarding PGRI was over. “We accept them in whatever semester. At the moment, registration for them is still open,” Radja said.
Subahi said that in the process of student transfers, the accepting universities are asked not to charge additional fees, like building money or registration fees. However, not all universities can comply with this; some are only able to offer transfer cost waivers.
Clarification
Meanwhile, Industry Ministry spokesperson Setia Utama has clarified a report published by Kompas on Friday (13/10). The report stated that the university that had its permit revoked was the Indonesian School of Industrial Management (STMI) Jakarta, which later changed its name to STMI Polytechnic Jakarta. According to Setia, they are two different universities. The STMI mentioned in the report is actually STMII, a private university located in North Jakarta, while STMI is a private university under the management of the Industry Ministry, located in Central Jakarta.
Based on the University Database, the study program and certificate of STMI Polytechnic Jakarta with the code PT 435002 are legal. “Therefore, the statement of a student claiming that the certificate is not recognized by the state is untrue. Graduates looking to apply for civil servant positions will have their certificates recognized,” said Setia.
