YOGYAKARTA – The rampant fighting among highschool and university students have recently became everybody’s, including universities, concerns. Related with the issue, activists in youth studies from 10 Indonesian universities declared Indonesian Association of Youth Studies (ASKI) at Universitas Gadjah Mada on Wednesday (3/10). Those universities are: UGM, Undip, UI, USU, Unair, Universitas Tanjungpura, Universitas Mataram, Universitas Hasanudin, Universitas Sriwijaya (Unsri) and Universitas Syiah Kuala.
“The aim of this activity is, among others, a form of concern in responding to the rampant student fightings,” said Director of Youth Studies Centre (YouSure) UGM, Dr. Najib Azca, in the meeting and workshop on Development of Youth Studies from 2-3 October 2012 in Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM.
Najib explained that one proposal submitted in the meeting was the need for organising and comprehensive and systematic researches about student fighting phenomenon. Especially in big cities. Until now, it has been seen that without knowledge basis and solid and comprehensive research,the policy pattern and problem handling are partial, ad hoc, only touching upon the surface while leaving the context and socio-political, economic and cultural roots intact.
“Through in-depth research, full comprehension is expected to arise about the complexities of student fightings,” said the lecturer of Sociology UGM.
Similarly, Dean of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of Unsri, Dra. Dyah Hapsari ENH, M.Si., assessed that as assets of state, more integrated management is needed for Indonesian youths. The current policy for them is still minimal. “I hope the emergence of ASKI would help increase the potential and prosperity of Indonesian young people,” Dyah said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister for Sports, Lalu Wildan, welcomed the ASKI. He hoped ASKI would become a strategic partner for the government in the development and advocacy of national youth policy that is based on knowledge and research.
According to Lalu, one solution is for young people and students is to give sporting facilities like sporting halls for the young. The Ministry has so far built eleven halls in some regions.
“I hope ASKI would be the network for communication and collaboration for youth studies development in various regions,” Lalu concluded.