Abdul Mu'ti: Sanctions for Students Cheating in Academic Ability Test
Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti has emphasised that sanctions will be imposed on students who engage in cheating during the Academic Ability Test (TKA). The sanction will be in the form of awarding a zero score. “We are firm, the principle is, if any student cheats or a school cheats, we will immediately nullify their scores,” said Mu’ti in a written statement on Wednesday, 1 April 2026.
The TKA for primary school (SD) and junior secondary school (SMP) levels will be held this month, April 2026. Based on the official announcement from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, the SMP TKA will take place from 6 to 16 April 2026, while the SD TKA will be conducted from 20 to 30 April 2026.
Mu’ti urged students and parents not to worry about the TKA as the test is not a determinant of graduation. The TKA assessment only covers two subjects, namely Indonesian Language and Mathematics, while other requirements are the authority of each educational unit.
In its implementation, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education emphasises that exam participants and schools should prioritise the principles of honesty and joy. Mu’ti stated that strict sanctions will be given if cheating is found, whether by students or schools.
Mu’ti hopes that students can take the test with a sense of joy to avoid psychological barriers or mental blocks. A standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding the implementation mechanism, inspection, and sanctions has been issued to ensure transparency in the conduct of the TKA at every educational unit.
He conveyed that, technically, preparations for the TKA implementation for 6th-grade SD and 9th-grade SMP students have reached the final stage and are just awaiting execution.
In addition, Mu’ti also said that schools that have not prepared computer devices for the exam should do so immediately. For schools that do not have computer devices for the TKA, Mu’ti said the government has prepared a mechanism for borrowing computers from other schools.
“Schools that do not or have not yet have computers, we arrange it in such a way that they can borrow from other schools that are not conducting the TKA,” said Mu’ti.