Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – State higher learning institutes have invited controversy by applying steep admission fees for those who can afford, such as Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) when it sought Rp 45 million (US$5,000) in education development fees from each new student in 2003.
This year, Bandung's Padjadjaran University (Unpad) is asking new students to pay up to Rp 150 million in such fees.
Unpad spokesman Hadi Suprapto Arifin, disclosed that more than 9,000 high school graduates had applied for the exclusive entrance program that offers 1,500 available placings based on the admission exam (SPMB). Under the scheme, students are required to pay education development fees ranging from Rp 7.5 million to Rp 150 million, according to their financial capacity and the course of study they choose.
"The lowest, at Rp 7.5 million, is for those applying for the fisheries or arts school, and the most costly is the medical school, with the fees set at 150 million," Hadi said in Bandung.
This year, ITB has continued with its exclusive entrance program, offering more than 1,000 placings. ITB's academic affairs vice rector Adang Surahman said that the number was more than half the regular graduate students admitted through the SPMB of 1,750 students annually.
The managements of higher learning institutions have cited the ever increasing operational costs for the prohibitive fees. Hadi acknowledged that students who were accepted through the SPMB would receive a subsidy of Rp 5.5 million each year from the government. However, he said that it cost Unpad between Rp 12 million to Rp 20 million annually to provide education for each student.
"Nevertheless, we have to seek ways to cover our costs, such through as the exclusive entrance program, while at the same time we also have to improve lecturers' welfare," said Hadi.
The university has set the highest fee for the medical school since it is a hot favorite, accepting only 30 students through the special program.
The school has been offering a program for overseas students with English as the medium of instruction for the past four years, with an admission fee of US$10,000 and tuition fee of $8,000 annually.
Unpad covered its operational expenses previously by conducting diploma and extension programs, providing around 5,800 places each year.
Adang also cited increasing operational costs for the rising fees, saying that ITB's operational costs amounted to Rp 400 billion annually. "As much as 25 percent is subsidized by the government, 25 percent from students' parents. We must seek the remaining 50 percent from various programs," said Adang.
Despite the controversy, Adang said that the number of students who had expressed interest in the exclusive entrance program had been increasing. When it was opened in 2003, only 2,200 applied, while 5,500 potential students applied this year.