Deputy Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Motivates Primary School Students to Build Confidence for Academic Ability Test

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Wamendikdasmen) Fajar Riza Ul Haq directly motivated primary school students in the city of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara Province, who are preparing to take the Academic Ability Test (TKA). During his visit, Fajar inspected the preparations of Class VI students at Dwijendra Mataram Primary School, who were practising TKA questions in Mathematics in the classroom. “For our children, do not panic or be afraid because the TKA does not determine graduation. It is to map individual student abilities, so we know their capabilities in literacy and numeracy,” said Wamendikdasmen Fajar in a written statement in Jakarta on Tuesday. He also interacted and joined the students using the Interactive Digital Board (PID) to solve logic-based story problems. He further emphasised that the TKA is part of the learning process, not a determinant of graduation. Fajar added that TKA results can be utilised as one component in the merit pathway for advancing to the next level of education, so students are expected to take the assessment with confidence and honesty. The use of PID in classroom learning and TKA preparation was also felt to have a positive impact. The students said the learning process became more interesting and enjoyable, while teachers assessed that the use of the medium facilitated the delivery of material in a visual and interactive manner. He explained that eight students will take the TKA this year. Preparations and socialisation have been carried out for a long time, both for teachers and students. The same sentiment was expressed by Class VI teacher Ni Wayan Mega Whidya Sridani, who stated that preparations have been underway since last year through additional special learning hours for Indonesian Language and Mathematics materials, as well as question practice based on the established guidelines. “After conducting simulations, we also create similar model questions to train students. This preparation has been done since last year because the TKA material covers learning from Class 4 to Class 6,” she said. She hopes that all students can complete the TKA well and achieve the best results.