Aceh school criticized for expelling 'cheaters'

Children's rights activists are demanding that a school in Aceh take back 11 expelled students who were allegedly caught cheating in the National Examinations.

"Dismissing those students is a violation of children's rights," activist Taufik Riswan on Wednesday, as quoted by tempo.co.

He was referring to the 2002 Children’s Protection Law, among other legislations and regulations, as proof.

He said SMA Sukma Bangsa senior high school principal Sanrisna had gone too far with such measures and blamed the school’s teachers for being unable to encourage students to be honest.

Taufik also asked local education agencies to take action against the school, located in Pidie regency, and asked for support from local communities.

The Education and Culture Ministry has taken a number of measures to minimize the number of cheating cases, including requiring students to sign an honesty agreement before doing their exams and having schools install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in exam rooms.

But the National Examinations have continuously witnessed cheating year after year.

Police in Bone regency, South Sulawesi, apprehended two high school students on April 16 who were caught using their cell phones to allegedly cheat on their exams.

In Demak regency, Central Java, exam questions for junior high schools were allegedly leaked before students sat the test earlier this week, with answers found in school yards. (png/mtq)