Failed students on the rise

Failed students on the rise

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The number of students failing the National Final Examination in Southeast Sulawesi had increased dramatically this year, an official said.

"The increase in the number of failed students was not only happening in Southeast Sulawesi, but in other provinces around the country," claimed head of the province's Education Office, Halili Sailan, on Tuesday.

The number of students who have not passed the exam has ranged between 20 percent and 30 percent this year, more than double the 10 percent recorded last year, he added.

He said the increase in the number of failed students did not reflect the province's low education quality, but was likely caused by several other factors, such as sick students, who did not take part in the examination. -- Antara