Final exams of junior high schools in the city scored

JAKARTA (JP): SLTPN 115 in Tebet Utara, South Jakarta, has been named the top academic scorer among public junior high schools in the capital as its final-grade students passed the recent national examination with an average student evaluation score (NEM) of 6.67.

Administrative coordinator at city office of the Ministry of National Education, Sulaeman Hariadi, said that success by the students and teachers of SLTPN 115 was followed by their colleagues at SLTPN 109 in Pasar Rebo and SLTPN 49 in Kramat Jati, both in East Jakarta, SLTPN 41 in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, and SLTPN 75 in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta.

The students at SLTPN 109 recorded an average of 6.6 for their NEM, those of SLTPN 49 completed the exam at 6.58, SLTPN 41 at 6.44, and SLTPN 75 at 6.43, Sulaeman said.

The student's NEM score for Junior High School is calculated by dividing the examination results (ranging from zero to 10) with the six subjects tested during the nationwide final examination (Ebtanas).

Elementary school (SD) students are tested on five subjects while their brothers and sisters at senior high schools (SLTA) are tested on seven.

Schools whose students record better scores usually become popular and targets for entrance by new students.

During Monday's press meeting, Sulaeman also announced the Ebtanas results for junior high students studying at private schools.

According to him, the top scores were achieved by students of SLTP Kanisius in Menteng, Central Jakarta, with an average score of 7.19, followed by those at SLTP Santa Ursula in Lapangan Banteng area, also Central Jakarta, with 7.18.

Those two schools were followed by SLTP IKIP (also known as Lab School) in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, with 7.13, SLTPK 2 BPK in Penabur, Central Jakarta, with 7.09, and SLTP Santa Maria in Puri Kembangan, West Jakarta, with 6.91.

"But the average NEM scores for all junior high schools were lower than those achieved last year," Sulaeman said, without elaborating further.

The highest NEM also dropped from around 53 last year to 49.66, earned by Marta Andika from SLTP 88 West Jakarta.

"I don't know what caused the drop, but we will find the solution so that next year it will rise again," Sulaeman said.

The average score at elementary schools in the capital was also slightly lower, falling from 6.63 last year to 6.58 this year.

But the highest NEM score this year was 48, one point higher than 47 last year, Sulaeman added.

He said his office has not yet been able to reveal the final scores of the students taking the recent Ebtanas for SLTA.

"We haven't finished examining their scores as many of them retook their Ebtanas due to the leak," Sulaeman said.

The Ministry of National Education recently found that the final examination was leaked in several high schools in Jakarta and Greater Jakarta, resulting in some 3,500 students at 55 schools in the city having to retake their examinations in early June.

Beside the NEM score and the school rankings, Sulaeman also announced that public school registration has already started for the academic year 2000/2001.

For elementary school, the registration is from June 19 to July 1. Registration for junior and senior high school closed last Friday, but for vocational high school, the registration is until July 1.

The registration fee is the same as last year; free for elementary school, Rp 3,500 for junior high school, Rp 4,000 for senior high school and Rp 4,800 for vocational high school.

"Other fees outside the registration fee should only be collected by the schools with the approval of the students," said Sulaeman.

Sulaeman warned school operators in the city not to set high contribution money (uang BP3) to new students, forcing them to buy new uniforms and requiring them to buy books the schools already arranged with third parties.

"If parents encounter such practices, just let us know and we will take action against the school's principal," he said, adding that his office took action against at least eight principals last year, ranging from firing to strong warnings. (09)