Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education Anticipates Various Challenges in Implementing SMP Academic Ability Test in 3T Regions and Disaster-Affected Areas

Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, stated that the implementation of the Academic Ability Test (TKA) in 3T regions has been anticipated to avoid obstacles, including those related to internet and power outages. “We have anticipated everything, and not all questions need to be online-based. There are computer-based questions that do not require downloading. In areas without internet access, we have prepared questions pre-installed on each computer. So, there are no problems. Schools without computer labs can share with other schools, and this sharing does not have to be at the same level,” he explained during a visit to the TKA implementation at SMP Negeri 2 Curug, Tangerang, on Monday (6/4). “Since the schedules are not simultaneous, for example, if senior secondary schools are ready, they can share with them. Junior secondary schools might also share with primary schools and so on. We prepared this well in advance of the implementation. InsyaAllah, there will be no issues,” he added. Furthermore, the current priority for the Ministry in implementing the TKA is disaster-affected areas. “What we are currently arranging are the disaster-impacted areas. Just recently, there was a school fire incident. This morning, I received news of a school affected by flooding in Bengkulu. For such cases, we will prepare follow-up exams. These are follow-up exams, not retakes, and we have already prepared for them,” emphasised Abdul Mu’ti. “That is why we made the schedule with a long range. This includes, for instance, if children fall ill on the day. We have prepared, but if they get sick on the day or due to other force majeure factors, we have anticipated them with follow-up exams. So, InsyaAllah, everything will proceed as it should,” he continued. At the same location, the Head of the Education Standards, Curriculum, and Assessment Agency (BSKAP) of the Ministry, Toni Toharudin, added that the follow-up TKA for the junior secondary level will be held in May 2026. “In May, we will have the follow-up (TKA), according to the timeline I provided. After the (primary school level TKA),” he said. He also assured that the TKA implementation for the primary school level is ready to proceed. According to him, the participation rate for primary school TKA participants is nearly the same as for junior secondary, at 98 percent. “Everything is ready; just waiting for execution. Infrastructure is also prepared, which schools are sharing and which are not. (Participation rate) is the same, nearly 98 percent approaching the population. For educational units, they are divided into those sharing and those not. Those sharing are not too many. But all have been accommodated,” he stressed.