Amid Limitations, SLB Students Enthusiastic and Optimistic in Taking Academic Ability Test

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) stated that SLB students capable of taking the Academic Ability Test (TKA) participated in the test with enthusiasm and optimism. Director General of Secondary Education and Special Education at Kemendikdasmen, Tatang Muttaqin, explained that besides academic mapping, the TKA for junior secondary schools/MTs/equivalent, including SMPLB, also supports the New Student Admission System (SPMB), which will open soon. “So, the TKA results will serve as a separate assessment in the new student admission process. For junior secondary, it means for entry into upper secondary schools,” said Dirjen Tatang in Jakarta on Tuesday. To the students, Tatang advised prioritising honesty in answering every question. “No need to feel too burdened, but work on the questions with full sincerity,” he added. Since morning, the students had arrived and prepared to take the TKA despite their limitations. “Our students have extraordinary determination and spirit to try and learn to follow this test,” said the Principal of SLBN Pandaan, Iva Evry Robiyansah. Overall, she mentioned that six SMPLB-level students at SLBN Pandaan took the TKA today. They are students with hearing impairments. Meanwhile, at SLBN Semarang in Central Java Province, the TKA implementation proceeded in a relaxed manner. The students completed the TKA questions happily and casually without pressure. According to Sri, the students had been prepared well in advance for the TKA, so they were far more ready when facing the given questions. Enthusiasm for taking the TKA was also felt at SLBN Halmahera Barat. In fact, one student not registered for the TKA wanted to take the exam. “One of our students with intellectual disability actually doesn’t have to take the TKA, but he wants to join anyway,” said the Principal of SLBN Halmahera Barat, Ismawati Muhammad. At SLBN Halmahera Barat, she mentioned a total of nine SMPLB-level TKA participants. The school had provided brief training on operating laptops or computers for students and formed a team in the form of a TKA preparation committee tasked with guiding students before the TKA was conducted.