Independent body to oversee national exams for students<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed on Monday a government
\nregulation that provides a legal basis for the controversial
\nnational final examination for students.<\/p>\n
Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo said the
\ngovernment would in coming days establish the National Education
\nStandardization Body (BSPN), which will organize and supervise
\nthe exams.<\/p>\n
An independent body, it will comprise 15 experts handpicked by
\nthe minister.<\/p>\n
\"As planned, we will officially set up the BSPN this week to
\norganize the national exams,\" Bambang said after a meeting with
\nthe House of Representatives' Commission X on education, youth,
\nsports, tourism, art and cultural affairs.<\/p>\n
The national exams are scheduled to take place from May 30
\nthrough June 1, with an indefinite October date set for the
\nsecond round of tests for those who don't pass in May.<\/p>\n
Critics and many House members from the last electoral term
\nopposed the government's plan to maintain the state-run national
\nfinal exams.<\/p>\n
The 2004 law on the national education system required the
\nnational exams to be organized by an independent body but said
\nthe government would eventually take over the job.<\/p>\n
During the meeting on Monday, the House approved the
\ndisbursement of Rp 249 billion (US$26.5 million) from the
\nministry's existing budget to fund the national exams, but left
\nthe decision to endorse the ministry's demand for Rp 40 billion
\nto finance the BSPN operations to the House's budgetary
\ncommittee.<\/p>\n
Bambang said the national exams were aimed at measuring and
\neventually raising the standard of national education.<\/p>\n
A ministry survey to support its national exam policy recently
\nfound the majority of respondents in Jakarta, Yogyakarta,
\nPasuruan and West Sumatra believed standardized exams were
\nnecessary for students in junior and senior high schools,
\nvocational schools and schools for the mentally handicapped and
\nstudents with other disabilities.<\/p>\n
The research applied a focus group discussion method involving
\nteachers, principals, directors and staff members of local
\neducation agencies, House of Representatives members and
\neducation campaigners from non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n
However, many teachers and scholars are still skeptical that
\nthe government-sponsored national final exams will narrow the gap
\nin education standards between schools across the country.<\/p>\n
Several House members also questioned the need for a second
\nround of exams, which Bambang said would become effective after
\nschools had implemented a credit system similar to that applied
\nat universities.<\/p>\n
\"In the long run, this will allow students to enroll in
\nschools and universities in the middle of the educational year,\"
\nBambang said.<\/p>\n
The credit system is only being used in a few schools in
\nJakarta and West Nusa Tenggara and is currently optional. (003)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/independent-body-to-oversee-national-exams-for-students-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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