Wiyono: Old Dream State University
BANYUWANGI – Dozens of University students 17 August 1945 (Untag) Banyuwangi demonstrated to reject plans to establish Airlangga University (Unair) Surabaya in Bumi Blambangan yesterday (13/3). Demonstrators think that the plan to establish Unair in Banyuwangi is a form of commercialization of education. While unfurling a banner reading "Reject the Commercialization of Education", demonstrators from the Student Executive Board (GOOD) Untag carried out a long march from the Untag campus to the Banyuwangi Regency Government office.
In front of the district government office, students staged theatrical actions and speeches against the plan to establish an Unair campus in the district nicknamed Sunrise of Java. Made Brian, one of the demonstrators said, The students refused to have Unair stand in Banyuwangi because they were sad to see the pros and cons that were going on for so long. Besides that, The plan to establish an Unair campus in Banyuwangi legally violates the Regulation of the Minister of National Education (Minister of National Education Regulation) Number 20 Year 2011 regarding the implementation of study programs (prodi) outside the university domicile.
“The distance from Surabaya to Banyuwangi is too far. The strategic plan (strategic plan) Unair has not yet entered Banyuwangi. So, we ask for more clarity. Regional governments must pay attention to regional autonomy. Legally, the establishment of Unair in Banyuwangi is correct, we are ready to support,"he said. According to Made Brian, The establishment of the Unair campus in Banyuwangi only sells the big name of the country's top state university. “This is a form of commercialization of education.
Just selling the name of Unair and fooling the public. The initial plan was for Unair to be established in Pasuruan or Sidoarjo, but why now in Banyuwangi?" ask him. Meanwhile, representatives of the demonstrators accompanied by constitutional law expert Untag, DR. Educate Suhariyanto, and a number of non-governmental organization activists (LSM) received by the Assistant Secretary of the District for Socio-Economic and People's Welfare (Social Welfare Asosek) Wiyono and General Administration Assistant (Asmin) Sulihtiyono at the Banyuwangi Regency Government office.
Tasks executor (Plt) Head of the Education Office (Dispendik) Dwi Yanto was also present at the meeting. Didik said, Untag rejected Unair in Banyawangi because it violated Minister of National Education Regulation Number 20 Year 2011. Besides that, The establishment of Unair in Banyuwangi violates the law- Law (UU) 32 Year 2004 regarding regional autonomy.
Meanwhile, Assistant for Economics and Social Welfare of the Banyuwangi Regency Government, Wiyono, explained, The establishment of a state university in Banyuwangi has been the people's dream since the era of Regent Joko Supaat Slamet's leadership at the beginning of the New Order. (Order) then. Apart from society, Wiyono said, at that time the regent also expressed a similar desire. Proven, in history, Banyuwangi has Tawang Alun University.
“Because Banyuwangi cannot provide the facilities needed, Tawang Alun University was moved to Jember and became the forerunner of Jember University (Unej) At the moment,he explained. According to Wiyono, The regent after the Joko Supaat Slamet era was also persistent in fighting for the establishment of state universities in Banyuwangi. During the leadership of Regent Purnomo Sidik, founded the Academy of Cooperative Management (Akop). Besides that, The district government encourages the establishment of a Health Nursing Academy (Akper).
"So, The establishment of a state university in Banyuwangi is an old dream that the central government is currently responding to," he explained. More to be said, Regional governments do not have the authority to establish or manage higher education institutions. The plan to establish Unair in Banyuwangi is not the policy of Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas but rather the policy of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Ministry of Education and Culture) RI. “Unair was given the mandate to open a study program in Banyuwangi," he said.
Wiyono added, real conditions in the field, private college (PTS)Banyuwangi is unable to accommodate outstanding local students according to their talents and interests. Proven, 90 percent of Banyuwangi students who excel choose to continue their undergraduate studies (S-1) outside the area. Wiyono still said, It is hoped that Unair's presence in Banyuwangi will be a driving force and attraction for development progress in various fields, including the field of education.
Wiyono hopes that local private universities will not have to worry about the plan to establish an Unair campus in Banyuwangi. Otherwise, Local private universities are advised to establish a symbiotic mutualism with Unair. “In a city that has a state university, The PTS is actually growing," he said. Besides that, Unair does not only accept local Banyuwangi students. In accepting new students, Unair carries out national selection.
Thus, students from outside the region will come to Banyuwangi. “The impact, automatically this will have a positive effect on the community's economy. The costs are increasing. The market for small and medium industries is getting bigger," he concluded. (radar)
