Government to maintain controversial national exam

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 10/06/2006 9:59 AM

Adisti Sukma Sawitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government is turning a deaf ear to public objections about the national exam system that requires students to repeat a school year if they fail it and later equivalency tests.

Speaking Wednesday during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission X on education, National Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo said the system would remain in place next year.

Several months ago, an alliance of teachers and students alliances filed a citizens lawsuit to the Central Jakarta District Court after about 600,000, or about 10 percent, junior high and high school students failed this year's exam.

""We can't change a regulation which is still being contested in court,"" Bambang said.

The failed students must repeat their final years or pass equivalency tests in study programs called packages B and C.

Up to 30 percent of students failed the equivalency tests this month and will either have to pass later tests or repeat their school year.

Despite this, some failed 12 grade students have already been admitted to undergraduate programs in universities.

""Graduating from high schools is a must. There is no excuse for that. Universities are not allowed to admit students who don't pass the exam,"" Bambang said.

The ministry is considering lowering the passing grade to allow more students to pass next year. This year's passing grade was 4.25 for all subjects and an average of 4.5 for the three core subjects tested: Math, Indonesian and English.

The ministry is also planning to hold the exam in April next year instead of May.

Its decision to maintain the exam was protested by some House legislators.

Elviana from the Golkar Party demanded the ministry withdraw the government regulation that was the legal basis for the exam.

""They should withdraw (the regulation) soon because the controversy will affect the deliberation of the education budget,"" she said.

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