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.