C

omputer skills may not have been foremost in the minds of Jakarta district and subdistrict heads when they first assumed their positions.

However, with the city administration summoning civil servants to open-call tests for the top local jobs, they will have to acquire them, and do it the hard way.

The administration is set for the second phase of the open call, where participants will sit exams on development, public service and administration and take competency tests on Saturday and Sunday.

Subdistrict head of Kelapa Dua in West Jakarta, Endang Baizury, said that he was not used to operating a computer as it is was his secretary's job to do so.

'A subdistrict head's work is 90 percent out-of-office, with the citizenry. The 10 percent in the office doesn't involve the use of computers,' he told The Jakarta Post recently.

'Computer work is the subdistrict secretary's job. There are guidelines for this.'

He said that most subdistrict heads, especially the senior ones, also had difficulties operating computers.

But he supports Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo's plan despite his limited computer skills and is doing his best to pass the tests.

'This plan is good for Jakarta's future and all civil servants are following it with their highest spirit and support,' he said, adding that Jakarta could become the bellwether for civil servants in other areas after the tests.

Endang said that the West Jakarta municipal administration had conducted joint training sessions with all district and subdistrict heads under its jurisdiction on computer skills to increase their chances in the tests.

Subdistrict head of Rawamangun in East Jakarta, Sukiman, said he shared the same difficulties.

He said he used to have the skills, but his job did not require him to use computers.

'I've forgotten how to use them now,' he said.

Although anxious about the tests, Sukiman has to secure his position as leader in the area for the remaining three months before his retirement.

'If I don't register for the open selection, the city administration will regard me as having resigned from my post,' he said.

'On the other hand, I'm approaching retirement so I'm struggling to hang on for the last three months,' he added.

Sukiman could not do anything about the selection, and could only try to do his best in the tests.

'I carry a laptop every day now. I've learned how to turn it on, operate it, write a letter using it and other things,' he said.

Sukiman is also learning again about basic mathematics and working on various psychological tests. He said he was ready to accept anything that might result from the tests.

A total of 1,156 civil servants from the administration applied online between April 8 and 22 for the open call for high-ranking district and subdistrict jobs. As many as 38 civil servants were excluded from the process as they failed the administrative process.

Candidates who have passed the administrative step will sit the exams simultaneously in eight different locations: SMK 1, SMK 14 and SMK 16 state vocational schools; SMA 1, and SMA 35 state senior high schools and SMP 1 state junior high school in Central Jakarta; and SMA 3 and SMA 70 state senior high schools in South Jakarta.

Successful candidates will fill 44 district leader and 267 subdistrict leader positions across the capital.

The tests include computer skills, a psychological test, an interview and, strength, weakness, opportunity and threat (SWOT) analysis.

The interview involves knowledge of the city's vision for the governor's New Jakarta mission, flood mitigation and mass transportation.