Govt to maintain national exams

SURABAYA: The government is to maintain the national final exam scheme for elementary and secondary schools, despite the House of Representatives' decision not to approve a budget for it.

Director General of Elementary and Secondary Education Indrajati Siddi said on Wednesday no other method could set a fair academic standard aside from a national exam. He added the Ministry of National Education's research and development department was completing revisions to the final exam format, which had come under strong public criticism.

"The national exam must be maintained as a means to evaluate the quality of students and teachers," he said on the sidelines of the 5th National Education Convention.

Lawmakers of the previous House had rejected the government's proposed 2005 budget for the national exams, but Indrajati said the government would negotiate with newly installed legislators over the issue. -- Antara