Ministry says people support contentious school test policy

Ministry says people support contentious school test policy

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In a bid to tone down the criticism over the new version of the
National Final Examinations (UAN), which was first done last
year, the education ministry revealed on Sunday several surveys
showing that the majority of people actually favored its
implementation.

Conducted by several different institutions, including the
Ministry's own research and development division, the surveys
seem to indicate that many people consider the national exams
necessary to maintain a certain national education standard,
given the different quality of teaching from province to
province.

They also think that the role of the central government is
required to control education nationwide.

The surveys also reveal that the final exams have boosted
students' motivation to study, and encouraged teachers' to
improve their achievement and performance in teaching, as well as
to create greater discipline.

A survey done by the State University of Yogyakarta in six
provinces has shown that 86 percent of student respondents said
the exams made them more motivated.

With surveys in West Sumatra, West Nusa Tenggara, South
Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Yogyakarta and East Java, the study
also showed that 74 percent of the students had become more
diligent in searching for alternative sources of material in
their preparations for the exams, and 44 percent of respondents
said they had a greater desire to attend school.

Approximately 82 percent of teachers said that the final exams
increased their motivation to teach, while 51 percent said it
made them want to improve their achievement, and 46 percent see
it as a way to keep them disciplined.

However, some 13 percent of teachers said that the final exams
could cause excess fatigue for students, while 17 percent said
the exams made students overly stressed. Ten percent said it
caused confusion and 27 percent of those surveyed speculated that
the exams could cost the state more money.

After its establishment last year, the national final exams
caused protests from some education experts, teachers and
students, especially over the controversial grade conversion
system to maintain the standard of national education.

The system lowers the scores of students who can correctly
answer more than 50 percent of the test questions and raises the
scores of students who answer less than 50 percent.

The education ministry on Jan. 20 did away with the conversion
table, but education observers have stated that such a national
exam should not be imposed at all.

The test is perceived by some as too centralistic, as local
teachers and schools no longer have the authority to determine
their own students' graduation standard. It also seems to be a
contradiction of Law No. 20/2003 on the National Education
System, which stipulates that teachers have the right to evaluate
students.

The implementation of the national assessment also prompted
many schools to offer extra classes to drill students on the
specific questions on the exam, in a bid to maintain or improve
the school's reputation.

The test forms, all of them in multiple choice, instead of
essay format, have only three subjects (Bahasa Indonesia, English
and mathematics), which has also been a bone of contention.

There have also been allegations of corruption. The Indonesian
Independent Teacher Federation (FAGI) last year received a report
that some schools changed their students' scores in order to make
the school look better.