The State Universities’ National Entrance Tests, now known as SNMPTN, have been in place since 1983. Most of the students in state universities are accepted through this selection method. Other methods — Interest and Talent-Based Selection, or PMDK, and other selection tests held independently
by each university — take fewer students.

Nuh, who was communication and information minister from 2006 until 2009, said the scores in the national final exams should be applicable for student selection for state universities.

“If we can make it easier, why make it harder by giving more tests?” he said, referring to a cigarette advertising campaign, although he himself does not smoke.

The scheme is a part of his vision to integrate the education system in the country. He argued that students’ scores in the national final exams for elementary and junior high schools had been used as a selection tool for the next level of education, thus the same method should be applicable for senior high school graduates.

The scheme was included in his 100-day program, although he said its implementation could take years. Nuh said he was going to discuss the plan with rectors from several state universities.

A spokesman for Nuh, Sukemi, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that this year, the ministry would try out the scheme in big state universities such as the University of Indonesia in Depok, Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta and the Bandung Institute of Technology.

Born into a farmer family in Gununganyar, Surabaya in 1959, Nuh grew up within a religious
environment and demonstrated his capability with his admission to the electronics faculty of the November 10 Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS) in 1983. He got his master’s and PhD degrees from Montpellier University of Science and Technology in Languedoc, France, and he was employed as a lecturer at ITS until he was elected rector in 2004.

Nuh and his wife, Laily Rachmawati, a dentist, have a daughter, Rachma Rizqina Mardhotillah, who was born in Montpellier in 1989 when Nuh was taking a postgraduate program.

With his experience as rector of ITS, Nuh was considered the right man for his current post. His appointment as the national education minister did not trigger any significant negative response from the public, instead, many can hardly wait for what the 50-year-old will bring to the table.

In the early days of his appointment, he pledged he would ensure the country had no damaged or leaky-roofed schools by 2010.

“If the infrastructure is well-managed, then the teaching and learning process will also run smoothly,”
Nuh said.

Sukemi said Nuh had proposed education institutions in the country focused more on shaping their students’ characters “through using different methods of teaching and using different materials in the subjects currently taught in schools”.

“The minister will also develop parenting education, a scheme to make parents more involved
in their children’s education,” he added. (adh)

Popular

PLN estimates North Sumatra blackout to end on Wednesday

Femicide persists as women face systemic neglect 

Indonesian hotel chain confirms exit from Cuba