Teachers, schools 'failing students'<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Students at religious and private schools fared worse in the
\nnational examinations than their state-school counterparts, while
\nthe low quality of teachers nationwide is cause for concern, an
\nofficial says.<\/p>\n
Ministry of National Education research and development agency
\nhead Mansyur Ramly said the latest national exam results had
\ngiven the ministry a useful map of how schools across the country
\nhad performed.<\/p>\n
In general, the failure rates tended to be higher in religious
\nschools than state schools. \"It is also higher in private schools
\ncompared to state schools,\" Mansyur said.<\/p>\n
Mansyur said that the highest failure rates were found in
\nconflict areas and underdeveloped provinces, with rates the worst
\nin tsunami-stricken Aceh, which has also had also been wracked by
\ndecades of separatist war.<\/p>\n
Mansyur said poor teacher quality was also an important reason
\nwhy students were failing.<\/p>\n
Ministry director-general of human resources development Fasli
\nDjalal said that only between 10 and 20 percent of teachers had
\nscored above average in recent competency tests held by the
\nministry.<\/p>\n
\"All regions have already started evaluating their teachers'
\ncompetence,\" he said, adding that the evaluation process had so
\nfar covered only 10 percent of teachers nationwide.<\/p>\n
Fasli said the new national regulations on teachers'
\nqualifications would gradually increase standards.<\/p>\n
\"The minimum requirements for new teachers will be the D4
\n(university diploma-level) or S1 (university degree-level)
\ngraduates with an additional 38 to 40 credits in a professional
\nsubject.\"<\/p>\n
He said the country currently had few primary and secondary
\nteachers that met the criteria. It would take 15 years to
\ngradually improve existing teachers' competence through training,
\nhe said, meaning students would have to make do in the meantime.<\/p>\n
Increased pass-rate requirements set by the ministry have
\nmeant failure rates in the national junior and senior high school
\nexaminations have doubled this year, denying more students the
\nchance to continue their studies.<\/p>\n
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Friday the examination pass
\nrates showed up the failings of the education sector. However, a
\nnation could only move forward if it was honest about its
\neducational quality, he said.<\/p>\n
It would take a concerted effort to improve the system, Kalla
\nsaid. \"We do not want to mistreat students, but we encourage
\nthem, as well as parents, teachers and local administrations to
\nwork harder.\"<\/p>\n
Some education experts have opposed the idea of measuring
\nstudents' competency through centralized national examinations.<\/p>\n
\"Higher standards can be set after all the conditions are
\nmet,\" education activist Yanti Muchtar said. \"Those (conditions)
\nare competent teachers, sufficient infrastructure and
\ncontextuality to local conditions.\"<\/p>\n
It would have been better for the schools to decide whether
\ntheir students should pass, Yanti said.<\/p>\n
\"Logically, they are the ones who know best about their
\nstudents' ability and progress.\" (003)<\/p>",
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