Ministry of Education's Response on Six Students in Bima Unable to Take Academic Ability Test

Six primary school pupils from SD Negeri 19 Rabangodu Utara in Bima City, West Nusa Tenggara, are confirmed unable to take the Academic Ability Test (TKA). This is because the six pupils are not included in the Basic Education Data (Dapodik).

The Head of the Education Standards, Curriculum, and Assessment Agency of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Toni Toharudin, stated that all pupils not recorded in the data indeed cannot participate in the TKA. “They must register within the time we specify. If they do not register, we apologise, but they cannot (take the TKA),” said Toni when contacted on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.

The parents of the six pupils protested to the school and the local education authority. They regretted the school’s negligence in not entering their children’s data into Dapodik. As a result, the six pupils could not take the TKA.

According to Toni, even if there is an error by the school operator, data corrections separately outside the specified time cannot be made. “We have prepared a long registration period. This treatment applies to all schools throughout the country,” he said.

The Head of the Education, Youth, and Sports Office of Bima City, Mahfud, said his office has received complaints from the pupils’ parents. “Their parents came to complain to us to find a solution so their children can take the TKA,” he said, as quoted from Detik.com.

Mahfud regretted that such negligence had to occur. According to him, administrative issues should not happen because they will directly impact the pupils’ academics. “I very much regret it. This is very detrimental to the pupils,” he stated. He promised to find an appropriate solution to address this incident.