Education Ministry Receives Requests from Several Regions to Adjust Academic Competency Test Schedule

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has received requests from several provinces to adjust the Academic Competency Test (TKA) schedule because natural disasters have affected their readiness to hold the assessment.

Rahmawati, head of the ministry’s Centre for Educational Assessment, said South Kalimantan and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) had submitted formal requests, while Central Kalimantan had made an initial enquiry about a possible schedule adjustment.

“Among the provincial authorities, South Kalimantan is the only one that has formally submitted a request so far. NTT has also done so, while Central Kalimantan has only just contacted us,” Rahmawati said on Friday afternoon after attending a media briefing on the TKA for senior secondary schools and vocational schools in Central Jakarta.

She explained that the requests were related to local conditions that could affect schools’ readiness to administer the TKA.

The ministry has not received a formal request from Central Kalimantan, she said, although the provincial government has indicated that it may need more time to hold the assessment.

However, participation in the test rehearsal was high in the province, suggesting that the TKA could go ahead according to the established schedule.

Rahmawati said students who faced difficulties on the main test day would still have the opportunity to take the assessment in a make-up session.

The ministry has prepared data on students who may need to sit the make-up test. Those unable to attend the main sitting can be recorded and included in the make-up session in accordance with the applicable rules.

“Even if they plan to attend on the main day, they can do so. But if they do not attend, that is also fine; they will be recorded as make-up candidates,” Rahmawati said.

She added that students could take the make-up test on the available dates if circumstances did not allow them to attend the main sitting.