High school students greet final exam result

JAKARTA (JP): Many high school students in the city seemed heedless of their future yesterday as they were swept up in the emotion of joy after the announcement of their final exam results.

Most of the students interviewed by The Jakarta Post were quite oblivious to the challenges ahead as they prepare to embark on the tough task of entering state colleges and universities.

"I don't want to think about it, I want to enjoy my graduation for the next few days," said Sisca, a student of the private Kartika high school in Bintaro, South Jakarta, yesterday after knowing that she passed the exam.

She explained her answer by saying that most are not accepted at state run colleges and universities, so it is not worth worrying about.

Each year over 420,000 students apply to the 49-state run universities and colleges throughout the country.

Only about 14.5 percent, just over 61,000 students, will be admitted while the rest must be satisfied with ending their educations or a more costly private institution.

Many other students, though not quite as dispassionate, responded in similar fashion, "getting in will be difficult but you have to try, who knows?" said Asih a student of public high school (SMAN) 70 in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

What else is there to do but try, a fellow student commented.

Ditta Rahmat, a student from SMAN 68 on Jl. Salemba Raya, Central Jakarta, said that many students are less than confident about passing the state-university entrance exam (UMPTN).

"Why worry about it, most of the senior students I know didn't get accepted so it's normal...it doesn't mean you've failed," she said.

When confronted with their plans should they not get into a state-university, all answered that they would either go to a private one or take college programs.

"I'll see where my friends go then I'll decide, but I'll definitely go to university because my parents also want me to go there," said Dirman a student at SMAN 6 on Jl. Mahakam, Kebayoran Baru.

Though some said they would like to work within a year or two, most seemed unprepared for the daunting task of immediately working.

"I think everyone is going to either college, university or take some sort of course...there are a lot of advertisements to choose from," Sisca said.

When asked further what she and her friends would choose, she simply said she hadn't decided.

Celebrations

In traditional manner, students scrawled over each other's uniform in celebration as high schools throughout the city announced the results of the examinations yesterday.

The usually clean white and gray uniforms were turned into a canvas for multicolored pens. Students took joy in amassing signatures from their fellows on their shirts as a reminder of this rite of passage.

"Even though I was confident (I would pass) I was still a little bit worried before the announcement," said Yasmine, another SMAN 70 student.

She added in the end it really was no surprise since she and many of her friends had studied hard for the final exams. Some even took special preparatory courses, she added.

In fact, the rate of students passing the exams in most of the high schools in the city was above 95 percent.

The headmaster of SMAN 70, Asrul Chatib, told the Post that of 703 students, all but five failed while last year the school had a perfect graduating record.

Meanwhile neighboring SMAN 6, located just a few meters behind SMAN 70, also reported that 97 percent passed the exams.

In the past few years local authorities have taken steps to clamp down on the delinquent behavior accompanying the announcement of the exam results celebrations.

Vandalism involving spray painting and fights have been common complaints in the past.

However, concerted efforts by police and school officials have been able to curb these acts.

"We can't stop the students since it has become part of school tradition, what we can do is to prevent the festivities from turning into anything violent," SMAN 70's headmaster explained of the custom of writing on each others uniform.

To avoid students from spilling into the streets, a stage and band played in the school grounds. Police were on also in the areas surrounding SMAN 70 and SMAN 6.

Second Lt. Supari, from the South Jakarta Police precinct, said everything was quite peaceful and that there were no damaging incidents yesterday. (mds/03)