Privatised Universities in Indonesia May Spark Classism

A proposed bill to advance the privatisation of top universities in Indonesia may lead to classism and conflict, as higher tuition fees will prevent underprivileged students from undergoing higher education, reports The Jakarta Post.

Education expert Darmaningtyas said tuition fees, especially at state universities, had rocketed since the government passed a regulation in 1999 that declared four top state universities legal entities. The four are the University of Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University, the Bogor Institute of Agriculture and the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

Since then the government has gradually cut subsidies to the four and has encouraged other universities to raise their own funds. The bill, which National Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo earlier said would change "all state and private universities into corporate-like institutions", is currently being deliberated at the House of Representatives

Source: Jakarta Post