The final examinations for senor high schools in the
\narchipelago commenced on May 5 and are to end tomorrow, May 8,
\nwhile the national examinations for junior high schools will be
\nheld from May 19 to May 22.<\/p>\n
This year's school examinations are different from those of
\nprevious years. According to the Minister of National Education
\nDecree No. 017\/U\/2003, only students with a grade average of 6
\nwill pass the exam, and a grade of 3 is not permitted in any
\nsubject.<\/p>\n
Only those who pass the exam will receive diplomas, which
\nmeans that those who do not pass will not advance to higher
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
In the past, every student received a diploma confirming that
\nthey had completed their schooling, but without acknowledging
\nwhether they had passed the exam or not.<\/p>\n
The government offers another chance for those unlucky
\nstudents who did not pass their exams to take another examination
\nbetween July 8 and July 10. This policy, however, raises a
\nserious conflict for junior high school students. High school
\nenrollment, for example, will have already closed by the time the
\njunior high school students have finished their second
\nexamination attempt and received their diplomas. This means that
\nthey will have to wait one full year until they can enroll in
\nhigh school.<\/p>\n
It is imperative that the Education Offices at the provincial
\nand regental levels issue a directive to senior high schools in
\ntheir jurisdiction to prevent these junior high school students
\nfrom being put back a year in their educational career.<\/p>\n
The high school students who take their final examination a
\nsecond time will have no problems, because there is enough time
\nbetween the end of the second examination and the start of
\nuniversity entrance exams.<\/p>\n
-- Warta Kota, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Hard times, challenges,
\nkeep haunting Iraqis<\/p>\n
The short war in Iraq has caused serious and numerous damages
\nthat will require a very long time from which to recover.<\/p>\n
Worse, not all ruined or destroyed properties can be repaired
\nor replaced. Many irreplaceable historical buildings and
\nartifacts revealing the greatness of the Mesopotamian and
\nBabylonian civilizations have been destroyed -- nothing can
\nrestore, renew or replace them. Such losses have affected not
\nonly the Iraqi people, but also the world community.<\/p>\n
The postwar situation is getting more and more complicated,
\nand the presence of U.S. and British troops have raised much
\ncontroversy.<\/p>\n
Iraq is now being run by an ad interim government sponsored by
\nthe U.S., while a transition government is expected to be
\nestablished by the Iraqi people (the Group of Nine) by the middle
\nof this month.<\/p>\n
America will guide the Iraqis in setting up the transition
\ngovernment, and the transition government will most likely be
\naccused of being an American puppet. In this sense, it can be
\nexpected that the transition government will face serious
\nresistance from the Iraqi people.<\/p>\n
Before the war, Iraq had already been suffering from an
\neconomic embargo placed upon it by the United Nations for the
\ncountry's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.<\/p>\n
Given the recent situation and conditions, the world can
\nimagine just how long the Iraqi people will continue to suffer.<\/p>\n
-- Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Working spouses<\/p>\n
What is surprising is why it took so long. It is a belated
\nrecognition that the foreign wives of Malaysians constitute a
\nskilled human resource that should have been harnessed in tandem
\nwith their welcome as new citizens.<\/p>\n
However, the new ruling applies only to foreign wives. What
\nabout foreign husbands of Malaysian women? They should be allowed
\nto find employment as well. If there is justification for the
\nforeign wives to work in the country, there is no reason why the
\nforeign husbands should continue to be barred from doing so.
\nHopefully, the authorities will relax the ruling to accommodate
\nthem too.<\/p>\n
The foreign wives include professionals who could not be
\nemployed because of the ruling. Now that they can, they will help
\nto augment the pool of such professionals. Some of the foreign
\nwives who are proficient in English or come from English-speaking
\ncountries can also teach the language in schools and private
\ninstitutions. Even if they are not trained as teachers, they can
\ngo for short-term courses. There could be other areas in which
\nthe foreign spouses can help make up for the lack of local
\nskills.<\/p>\n
In the expanding economy and its ever increasing demand for
\nskills and talent, foreign spouses represent a continuing influx
\nof both. Their contribution can only be positive.<\/p>\n
-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-final-examinations-for-senor-high-schools-in-the-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }