Educational experts disagree on school admission tests

By Fitriyanti Djoni

JAKARTA (JP): Private schools have become more selective, commonly applying tests, in accepting new pupils to fill their limited seats.

"Indirectly, the entry tests reveal students' IQ levels, although the result is grouping students according to their IQ," said Arief Rachman, principal of the IKIP Lab School in East Jakarta.

Arief was commenting on concern about entry tests for kindergarten aged-children joining elementary school. Many parents believe the tests put children under stress. Many people argue that it is not fair to put such young children in a situation which often determines their entire future. Early in life, Indonesian children are branded smart, average or slow. There are many outside factors, however, that determine a child's success in taking such tests.

"Private schools will definitely screen applicants and for sure they will only accept bright and healthy students, the achievers. It will be even better if those students come from wealthy or intellectual families," Arief said.

Arief and psychologists Fawzia Aswin Hadis and Sartono Mukadis made it clear in separate interviews that they do not agree that screening tests should be the ultimate factor for admittance to high school or academic institutes.

Arief says students should not be evaluated on the strength of their IQ levels alone. Other factors must enforce the decision of admission. A student might be of mediocre intellect, but might excel in performance. Such a youngster might be strongly considered for acceptance.

"I don't really approve of clever students, or bookworms who avoid extracurricular activities, even if this takes on relaxing overtones. Such students reflect turmoil, they are still locked in an identity crisis. They need to mingle with others, they should be active and show interest in social matters. Above all, they should take up sports," he said.

"A clever, but inactive child, is opposed to one who is active but of middle IQ level. A child, active in sports, is blessed with a healthy spirit. She or he loves to meet with people and cares for social issues. Such a child is able to overcome problems fast because of experience," he stressed.

Psychologist Sartono Mukadis shares Arief's view that screening tests of primary students should not be the only criteria for entrance into advanced education.

"It could be that the child is not too well at the time of the test, or the child might have been under pressure of ambitious parents who like to see their offspring come way ahead of the class," he said. Parents like to brag about good test results, they spur on the child to the extent that the child is seized in a victory syndrome. Low grades are attributed by most Indonesian parents to a lackadaisical attitude.

"Parents should realize that they should look further into the cause of the attitude. Then there are parents who make jeering remarks to air disappointment when a child records poor IQ results," added Sartono.

This could have a devastating effect on a child's character. The child will be marked as a dim-wit, while he or she could well have other talents. It all depends on the parents.

Sartono disapproves of early screening results as a criterion for further education. He argues that ranking systems should be removed from school reports.

"The grades in the report suffice to pass on the message to parents. It isn't necessary to emphasize the student's ranking in digits I, II and so on. The ranking system might be an influential deterrent to the child's school performance, " he said.

Few Indonesian children are blessed with very sharp minds. Children should be allowed to develop at their own pace. When they are doing poorly at school, they should be given encouragement instead of becoming the laughing stock of the family.

Sartono said quality schools do churn out clever graduates because of screening, but favors regular schools which spawn average graduates who can continue to develop. It is more of an achievement if the students were once rebels.

"It would a miraculous and touching achievement if ill behavior could be guided into positive channels and onetime rebels be transformed into useful and decent guys. In such a case, all credit is due to the teachers," Sartono said.

Fawzia Aswin Hadis thinks the tests are normal, as long as the entire student is considered. The background, economic bearing and intellectual acumen should be considered for each student.

Screening tests are applied in private schools of big cities. No screening tests are needed to enroll in private school in the regions. The latter offer a better chance to slow students who fail to pass to a higher grade. If in a big city they have to repeat class because of poor performance, regional schools can solve this problem. They accept failed students from big cities and let them pass into a more advanced class.

"Not every private school applies a screening test for admission. It depends on the school and its location," explained Fawzia.

Fawzia did not respond to the question if new students are only admitted on the strength of their screening results, or if other factors sway the decision.

"It is a school's privilege to recommend a student for admission, whether this would depend on the student's grades or the substance of the parents' donation. We wouldn't know, although it might just be possible," she explained.

A screening test should not be the only criteria looked at for future admissions to schools. People change and their IQ test results do not assure achievement.