Surabaya – Dozens of students under the Surabaya Students Central Movement (SGMS) staged a rally on Monday in front of 17 Agustus University, Surabaya, in protest against the new law on legal entities in the education system.

Students erected banners and blockaded streets surrounding the campus, causing traffic jams in the area. Tires and leaves were also burned as a sign of protest, tempointeraktif.com reports.

One of the demonstrators, Kristianus, said students opposed the new law as it created leeway for the commercialization of education. "Students from low-income families will find it more difficult to get access to education as it will become very expensive," Kristianus said.

Under the new law public universities can charge exorbitant fees to finance their activities, students say. (ewd)