`I couldn't focus on my exams due to poverty'

`I couldn't focus on my exams due to poverty'

About 16 percent of 131,151 high school students did not pass the
final exams, the Jakarta Higher Education Agency said earlier
this week, but they still had another chance to retake them. In
the past, exams for the entire curriculum were set by the
government; now the government has set exams for only three
subjects, while the remainder are the responsibility of the
schools. Students must attain an average of at least 6.0 points
to pass the test, and each score must be at least 3.01. The
Jakarta Post talked to several students who had failed the exam.

Iis, not her real name, 20, is a final-year student at a
private senior high school in Rawamangun, East Jakarta. She lives
in Klender, East Jakarta, with her family:

I'm sad as I failed the final examination. What am I supposed
to do now?

To tell you the truth, I failed to concentrate on the final
exam due to financial problems. My parents had not yet paid the
exam fees completely.

For the National Final Exam (UAN), I had to pay more or less
Rp 400,000, plus another Rp 200,000 for the School Final Exams
(UAS). It was quite a lot of money, more or less unaffordable for
my parents.

The financial problem troubled me a lot, and I found it hard
to concentrate fully on the exams. I didn't perform very well in
them.

I'll have a second chance to take the final exams, which will
be free this time.

I disagree with the new final examination system imposed this
year -- it's very complicated. The system does not benefit
students, and, of course, the administrative fee is pretty steep
too.

However, it's the government's new policy -- there's nothing
we can do about it.

I'd like to continue my studies at college but I won't be able
to afford it.

Budi, not his real name, 18, is a third-grade student at a
state senior high school in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. He
lives in Sukapura, North Jakarta, with his family:

I'm not sad, even though I failed the final exam. I'm just
trying to remain optimistic as I'll still have a chance to retake
the exam next month.

I'm pretty sure I'll pass the retake. I'm not too worried
about it as I'll study hard beforehand.

To be honest, I focused my efforts on the three UAN subjects
at the expense of the UAS ones.

Maybe I wasn't well enough prepared. I think that's why I
failed the UAS tests. Besides, I didn't anticipate that my school
wouldn't try to pass students who had failed.

I reckon that the school has imposed a strict grading system,
so there's less chance of getting our grades marked up.

In fact, my UAN grades were above the minimum requirements.
However, the cumulative average of both UAS and UAN grades was
below the standard for a pass.

I don't know whether or not I'll continue my studies at
college because I want to concentrate on my final exams first.

Hadi, not his real name, 20, is another third-year student at
a state senior high school in North Jakarta. He lives in Bremis,
North Jakarta, with his family:

I can't deny that I feel rather disappointed about my final
exam results, even though I'd prepared well for them.

The new system is much tougher, compared with the old one.
Besides, the way it has been implemented has come as quite a
shock to me.

I failed the final exams because my cumulative achievement
points were less than 6.0. I hadn't really anticipated how
difficult the five UAS subjects would be, I guess. Accounting and
economics were the hardest.

However, I don't blame the teachers here but rather myself for
not being well-prepared enough before the tests. Also, I believe
that none of the teachers here marked up any of the papers in
order to pass them.

I disagree with the new system because it might frustrate
students in their effort to get a place at a higher education
institute.

I want to continue by studies, but I'll work first because I
don't have enough money for it.

-- Leo Wahyudi S