Minister of Basic and Secondary Education: Cheating Supervisors in Academic Ability Test to be "Grounded"

Indonesia’s Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen), Abdul Mu’ti, is prepared to impose firm sanctions on supervisors of the Academic Ability Test (TKA) who engage in cheating or behaviour contrary to the rules, in order to guarantee the orderliness and objectivity of the TKA implementation. His side will not hesitate to blacklist the names of supervisors found violating rules during this year’s TKA administration, so they will not be involved in next year’s TKA. “We urge all supervisors to carry out their duties as they should, in accordance with the procedures and rules in the TKA. Supervisors who act improperly will be grounded by me; I won’t use them as long as I’m Minister. This is serious, because it’s important to instil honesty in children,” said Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu’ti while inspecting the first day of the SMP-level TKA implementation at SMP Negeri 2 Curug, Tangerang Regency, Banten Province, on Monday. Some improper supervisor behaviours include recording test-taking activities, smoking near the test room area, or cheating actions such as completing questions for participants or providing answers related to the TKA questions being tested. Therefore, Mendikdasmen requests that all relevant parties report to him if they find supervisors behaving contrary to the TKA implementation procedures and rules. “Don’t intimidate either, so the children feel uncomfortable while working on it,” said Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu’ti. For information, the first day of the SMP-level TKA tested Mathematics and numeracy subjects with 30 questions and a completion time of 75 minutes. After completing the Mathematics and numeracy subjects, participants will complete a character survey for 20 minutes.