T

he Education and Culture Ministry will focus on establishing more state universities at the regional level as part of efforts to ensure financially accessible education for citizens, says Education and Culture Minister Muhammad Nuh.

Nuh commented during the inauguration of the Raja Ali Haji Maritime University (Umrah) as a state university in Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands on Monday.

“Before, there was a saying that poor people are not allowed to study at university, but the needy need not be banned from studying in universities, because if they are asked to study at a high cost, they will discontinue their studies.

“Such circumstances should not be allowed to go on. The government must gradually overcome this. Gifted but needy students must be given access to study at universities for free,” said Nuh.

Each year the Target Mission education program provides places for 30,000 needy but gifted students to enroll in universities.

The inauguration of Umrah into a state university by Nuh was attended by Deputy State Minister
for Administrative Reforms Eko Prasodjo, House of Representatives Commission X chairman Asman Abnur and Riau Islands Governor Muhammad Sani.

The inauguration ceremony was marked with the handing over of landed assets from the provincial administration to the Education and Culture Ministry.

Umrah, which was established by the then Riau Islands governor Ismeth Abdullah in 2007, will subsequently be under the responsibility of the central government.

The process of turning it into a state university was initiated on June 13, 2008, and was approved by the government through Presidential Decree No. 53/2011 on Sept. 8, 2011.

According to Nuh, Umrah is the only university in Indonesia which has made maritime affairs as the main subject of research, knowledge and development, in accordance with the maritime characteristic of Riau Islands.

“With the status of a state university, Umrah must be socially friendly. There should be no students forced out for paying their tuition fees late,” said Nuh.

This year the government has granted state status to 10 universities established by provincial administrations.

The central government has not approved all applications made by provincial universities due to various considerations.

Umrah consists of five schools – economy, engineering, teacher and education, maritime and fishery science and political science. Umrah has 6,213 students, 80 permanent lecturers and 138 administrative employees.

Umrah Rector Maswardi Muhammad Amin said the process of the university becoming a state university was considered quick compared to the process faced by other provinces.

“This shows that the government is serious on higher learning in border areas, such as the Riau Islands,” said Maswardi.