Campus Responds to Criticism of BEM UI Has a Pajero but UKT IDR 500,000
The University of Indonesia's Student Executive Board (BEM UI) criticized the cost of college education which it felt was becoming increasingly burdensome. The UI campus gave a striking answer.
Head of UI's Public Relations and Public Information Disclosure Bureau (KIP), Amelita Lusia, said that each new student would be informed about the process of determining tuition fees through a mechanism. Amelita said that students can also submit objections if they object to the amount set.
"Just like in previous years, some of them accepted the rate setting provided by UI. Some agreed but asked for relief in installments, some objected and asked to be lowered," explained Amelita when contacted, Thursday (29/6/2023 ).
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"If they ask for relief, we ask them to provide supporting data," he continued.
According to Amelita, new students will be asked to input their data when re-registering after being declared to have passed the entrance selection. He said the determination of UKT was based on consideration of the data inputted by prospective students.
Then he gave an example, if a student inputting data owns a Mitsubishi Pajero car, which costs Rp. 500 million, according to him, these students do not deserve to be subject to UKT fees for the lower class.
"From the data (entered) it turns out that the car is a Pajero, where is the house, why don't we give Rp. 500,000 (UKT tariff)," he said.
Amelita added, if there was an explanation from the student regarding the ownership of the luxury car, this could be considered by the campus. The action can be in the form of lowering the UKT class.
"If you say, 'oh that's my uncle's car'. Oh yes, maybe a car registration certificate in the name of his uncle is included, we will definitely take it down. Why did that happen at UI. There's something like that," he said.
Amelita emphasized that campuses are not arbitrary in determining the cost of education. He said that at UI there were also students who were not charged UKT fees if indeed that was according to the data he uploaded.
"Actually, if you ask for relief, how come there is zero (the UKT). There is Rp. 500,000, from the beginning we gave Rp. 500,000. Or if he asked for relief, we will give it," he said.
"Just like this, we determine what it is based on, for example sending data," he continued.
BEM UI Criticizes Tuition Fees
BEM UI previously criticized the setting of tuition fees on campus. They said the campus was not transparent regarding the determination of education costs.
"Since the start of the process of updating the provisions regarding tuition fees, there has not been a single issue regarding tuition fees at UI which can be accommodated properly by the campus," said Chair of the University of Indonesia's Student Executive Board (BEM UI), Melki Sedek Huang, in his statement,Friday (23/6).
"Communication, which should be one of the main keys in coordination, has never been presented properly by the campus," he continued.
Melki said the campus did not involve students in the process of assessing the cost of education. According to him, Decree (SK) Number 402/SK/R/UI/2023 concerning Tuition Fee Rates for National Pathway Students was issued suddenly on April 16, 2023.
"In the process of drafting it to publication, students were never involved or invited to communicate. UI was always difficult to contact and always said they did not know when asked about the whereabouts of this SK," he said.
Melki said there were 700 complaints from 2,000 students who were accepted through the National Selection Based on Achievement (SNBP) route of objections to education costs. According to him, many students clearly cannot afford the high rates on the fee.