Ministry of Education, Primary and Secondary Education: Primary School admissions must not include calistung tests

Jakarta — The Ministry of Education, Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has reiterated that the implementation of the Student Admission System (SPMB) for primary education must not administer a calistung test to applicants. Gogot Suharwoto, Director-General of Early Childhood Education, Basic Education, and Non-Formal and Informal Education at Kemendikdasmen, said this policy is part of a friendly and inclusive SPMB principle to ensure all children have access to basic education without discrimination. ‘There must be no calistung tests. The essence is that,’ he said after the signing ceremony of the Joint Commitment for a Child-Friendly SPMB at Plaza Insan Berprestasi, Building A, Kemendikdasmen, Central Jakarta, on Thursday.

He also said that prospective students under 7 years old can still begin primary education as long as the child is deemed ready to participate in learning activities. ‘So, for primary school SPMB there is an age exception, but there are notes. The key is that the child is ready to participate in learning at primary level,’ he added.

Moreover, Gogot explained that pupils entering primary education aged 6 years to a minimum of 5 years 6 months by 1 July of the current year must possess intelligence and/or special talents and psychological readiness. This intelligence and readiness, he said, must be accompanied by a certificate from an expert authorised to legitimise it, such as a psychologist.