Educational experts disagree on school admission tests
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.