Military offers services to detect `paid jockeys'

JAKARTA (JP): Military personnel are prepared to help safeguard the upcoming state university entrance test (UMPTN) against jockeys, paid persons who furtively take the test on behalf of accredited students to improve their scores.

The chief of the Jakarta chapter of the Agency for the Support of National Stability (Bakorstanasda), Maj. Gen. Hendropriyono, yesterday offered the services of his men to the exam organizing committee to guard against people using jockeys.

"If we are asked by the UMPTN organizing committee or the city education office, we will assign our men to oversee the exams," Hendro said. Hendro is a popular name of the army general.

Cases of the use of jockeys during the UMPTN have been notorious in the past. It reached headlines again this past week when several students from the prestigious Bandung Institute Technology (ITB) were expelled because they entered the institute with the help of jockeys.

According to Hendro, the UMPTN organizing committee is performing its duties adequately and will prevent a reappearance of jockeys in this year's tests.

"As long as they are still doing their job, there is no need for Bakorstanasda to be involved," he said.

The UMPTN in Jakarta is scheduled to be held on June 21-22 with some 80,000 students participating.(mds)