High school students greet final exam result<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Many high school students in the city seemed
\nheedless of their future yesterday as they were swept up in the
\nemotion of joy after the announcement of their final exam
\nresults.<\/p>\n
Most of the students interviewed by The Jakarta Post were
\nquite oblivious to the challenges ahead as they prepare to embark
\non the tough task of entering state colleges and universities.<\/p>\n
\"I don't want to think about it, I want to enjoy my graduation
\nfor the next few days,\" said Sisca, a student of the private
\nKartika high school in Bintaro, South Jakarta, yesterday after
\nknowing that she passed the exam.<\/p>\n
She explained her answer by saying that most are not accepted
\nat state run colleges and universities, so it is not worth
\nworrying about.<\/p>\n
Each year over 420,000 students apply to the 49-state run
\nuniversities and colleges throughout the country.<\/p>\n
Only about 14.5 percent, just over 61,000 students, will be
\nadmitted while the rest must be satisfied with ending their
\neducations or a more costly private institution.<\/p>\n
Many other students, though not quite as dispassionate,
\nresponded in similar fashion, \"getting in will be difficult but
\nyou have to try, who knows?\" said Asih a student of public high
\nschool (SMAN) 70 in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
What else is there to do but try, a fellow student commented.<\/p>\n
Ditta Rahmat, a student from SMAN 68 on Jl. Salemba Raya,
\nCentral Jakarta, said that many students are less than confident
\nabout passing the state-university entrance exam (UMPTN).<\/p>\n
\"Why worry about it, most of the senior students I know didn't
\nget accepted so it's normal...it doesn't mean you've failed,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
When confronted with their plans should they not get into a
\nstate-university, all answered that they would either go to a
\nprivate one or take college programs.<\/p>\n
\"I'll see where my friends go then I'll decide, but I'll
\ndefinitely go to university because my parents also want me to go
\nthere,\" said Dirman a student at SMAN 6 on Jl. Mahakam, Kebayoran
\nBaru.<\/p>\n
Though some said they would like to work within a year or two,
\nmost seemed unprepared for the daunting task of immediately
\nworking.<\/p>\n
\"I think everyone is going to either college, university or
\ntake some sort of course...there are a lot of advertisements to
\nchoose from,\" Sisca said.<\/p>\n
When asked further what she and her friends would choose, she
\nsimply said she hadn't decided.<\/p>\n
Celebrations<\/p>\n
In traditional manner, students scrawled over each other's
\nuniform in celebration as high schools throughout the city
\nannounced the results of the examinations yesterday.<\/p>\n
The usually clean white and gray uniforms were turned into a
\ncanvas for multicolored pens. Students took joy in amassing
\nsignatures from their fellows on their shirts as a reminder of
\nthis rite of passage.<\/p>\n
\"Even though I was confident (I would pass) I was still a
\nlittle bit worried before the announcement,\" said Yasmine,
\nanother SMAN 70 student.<\/p>\n
She added in the end it really was no surprise since she and
\nmany of her friends had studied hard for the final exams. Some
\neven took special preparatory courses, she added.<\/p>\n
In fact, the rate of students passing the exams in most of the
\nhigh schools in the city was above 95 percent.<\/p>\n
The headmaster of SMAN 70, Asrul Chatib, told the Post that of
\n703 students, all but five failed while last year the school had
\na perfect graduating record.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile neighboring SMAN 6, located just a few meters behind
\nSMAN 70, also reported that 97 percent passed the exams.<\/p>\n
In the past few years local authorities have taken steps to
\nclamp down on the delinquent behavior accompanying the
\nannouncement of the exam results celebrations.<\/p>\n
Vandalism involving spray painting and fights have been common
\ncomplaints in the past.<\/p>\n
However, concerted efforts by police and school officials have
\nbeen able to curb these acts.<\/p>\n
\"We can't stop the students since it has become part of school
\ntradition, what we can do is to prevent the festivities from
\nturning into anything violent,\" SMAN 70's headmaster explained of
\nthe custom of writing on each others uniform.<\/p>\n
To avoid students from spilling into the streets, a stage and
\nband played in the school grounds. Police were on also in the
\nareas surrounding SMAN 70 and SMAN 6.<\/p>\n
Second Lt. Supari, from the South Jakarta Police precinct,
\nsaid everything was quite peaceful and that there were no
\ndamaging incidents yesterday. (mds\/03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/high-school-students-greet-final-exam-result-1447893297",
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