Agency calls score buying 'appalling'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Agency for Pancasila Propagation has
\nexpressed deep concern over reports that many teachers in Bekasi
\nsold high marks to parents who want their children admitted to
\nprestigious schools.<\/p>\n
The agency's chief R. Soeprapto told Antara yesterday that the
\nconspiracy involving school teachers, headmasters and parents to
\njack-up students' final scores is \"appalling\".<\/p>\n
Soeprapto said that problem stems from parents anxious to get
\ntheir children, whose actual academic proficiency is highly
\nquestionable, admitted to prominent schools.<\/p>\n
\"Those parents serve their ego and don't care whether their
\nchildren will be able to follow their classes in the new school,\"
\nsaid Soeprapto, who is a former expert staff member at the
\nministry of education and culture.<\/p>\n
Buying final scores is reportedly common at several junior and
\nsenior schools in Bekasi.<\/p>\n
The trend, Soeprapto said, is the result of rapid development
\nwhich has widened the gap between the rich and the poor.<\/p>\n
\"Teachers are among those who have not benefited from the
\nrapid economic development,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the existing public schools cannot accommodate
\nthe increasing number of graduates from lower level schools,
\nmaking competition even tighter.<\/p>\n
The scam was revealed shortly after school registration for
\nthe new term beginning July 17 closed on June 30. Anomalies
\nincluded unbelievable high marks and inconsistency between final
\nexam scores and semester reports.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that some teachers approached parents, saying
\nthey could help children get higher marks for an agreed-upon sum
\nof money. In other cases, parents approached the teachers to make
\nthe same deal.<\/p>\n
One parent was guaranteed by a teacher that his son would be
\nadmitted to a popular state junior high school for Rp 400,000
\n(US$180).<\/p>\n
\"My son's final score was only 43.46 while the particular
\nschool sets the minimum score at 45.88. This teacher told me it
\nwould be okay if I could pay him Rp 400,000,\" the parent said.<\/p>\n
Another parent claimed that he had to pay a Rp 600,000 bribe
\nto get his son admitted to a state junior high school in Bekasi.
\n\"My son's score was only 35.8 and I was told I had to pay Rp
\n600,000 to cover it up,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The latter said he \"could not understand\" why his son's score
\nwas so low because the student is well known for his various
\nacademic achievements at school.<\/p>\n
\"I protested to the local (Bekasi) office of education (over
\nthe low score) but they didn't take my report seriously,\" the
\nparent said.<\/p>\n
One Bekasi school has become the butt of jokes because many of
\nits students have received final marks above 46, even though only
\nfive subjects, each with a maximum score of 10, were tested.
\n(pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/agency-calls-score-buying-appalling-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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