Students, parents crowd popular schools<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
On the first day of registration at state high schools in
\nJakarta, prominent schools were swamped by hundreds of junior
\nhigh school graduates and their parents, while less favorite
\nstate high schools remained quiet.<\/p>\n
Bambang, an admission member staff at state high school 8 in
\nBukit Duri, South Jakarta, said that graduates applying for
\nplaces at the school reached more than 700 on Monday.<\/p>\n
Bambang said the number of applicants surpassed the 358 places
\navailable for new students.<\/p>\n
\"The number could increase as we still have three days of
\nregistration left,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, only 168 students registered at state high school
\n24 on Jl. Lapangan Tembak in West Jakarta on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the number of applications will increase over the
\nnext few days,\" said Nurdin, deputy principal of the school.<\/p>\n
Nurdin said there were 213 places available at his school.<\/p>\n
There were fewer students registering at less popular state
\nschools than there were at prominent state high schools, which
\nonly accept students with a high grade point average.<\/p>\n
The admission process runs from Monday to Thursday at state
\nhigh schools in the capital. More than 30,000 places are
\navailable. There are 115,018 junior high school graduates
\ncompeting for places at state schools, with a further 154,507
\nplaces available at private high schools and vocational schools.<\/p>\n
Bambang said his school had admitted students with grade point
\naverages of between 46 and 51 last year. The grade point average
\nwas based on six selected subjects of the final test.<\/p>\n
\"But the standard may be lower than last year as the highest
\ngrade point average attained by state junior high school
\ngraduates for this year in Jakarta was only 49,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sutopo, a parent whose daughter had a fairly good average of
\n45, expressed confidence that his daughter would win the tough
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
\"I have no doubt. She will obtain a place here or at one of
\nthe other popular schools,\" he boasted.<\/p>\n
Silviana, whose son had only a 39 grade point average,
\ncomplained that she had to carefully monitor her son's position
\non the daily chart.<\/p>\n
\"If my son's position hovers at the lower lines on the chart,
\nI will take his documents and apply at other popular schools,\"
\nsaid Silviana, who accompanied her son to register at high school
\n68 in Salemba, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Silviana said she also planned to register her son at high
\nschool 78 in Slipi, West Jakarta, or high school 3 in Setiabudi,
\nSouth Jakarta, should her son not be accepted at high school 68.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of parents appeared to be confused and weary milling
\nin front of the schools' admission offices. Some parents became
\ninvolved in short disputes with school staff over the admission
\nprocedure.<\/p>\n
Silviana said she had been forced to return home to get a copy
\nof her kartu keluarga (family card), which is one of the
\ndocuments required for registration.<\/p>\n
An admission staff member at high school 68 in Salemba,
\nCentral Jakarta, said the school prioritized students with high
\ngrade point averages.<\/p>\n
However, he said, should selection be tight because of the
\nlimited seats at the school, other factors besides grade point
\naverages would be taken into account.<\/p>\n
\"For instance, if some applicants have the grade point
\naverage, then the school will select those who have the best
\ngrades in English, math or physics,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-parents-crowd-popular-schools-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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