Schools failing exams ‘may be merged’

JAKARTA: The government said on Friday that schools with a zero percent pass percentage in the national examinations could be merged with other nearby schools or undergo a strengthening program.

National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh said if a school had very few students, it could possibly be merged with another school. The authority to decide lies with each city or regency administration, he said.

He said there were five high schools in Jakarta with zero percent passage, housing 147 students.

Schools that will be strengthened would be improved in terms of the number of teachers and facilities.

“With the national examination, we can know exactly which schools are relatively good and which ones require special
attention,” Nuh said as quoted in an official release from the ministry.

The percentage of graduating high school students based on the results of the national examinations increased from 62.55 percent to 76.99 percent and from 58.2 percent to 73.78 percent for vocational high schools. — JP