National exam not educational

National exam not educational

From Media Indonesia

The controversy on whether the government should hold the
national exam continues, involving not only educational experts,
laymen, politicians and bureaucrats but also the country's Vice
President. Jusuf Kalla told one Jakarta's newspapers that the
national examination would be an effective instrument to improve
Indonesia's human resources, which are currently poorly educated.

In the House of Representatives, however, the debate on this
matter centers more on the legal aspects of the examination
rather than on its usefulness and ability to boost the quality of
the country's human resources. House members believe that this
national exam violates Law No. 20/2004 on the national education
system.

The purpose of education in Indonesia -- according to the
stipulation of the People's Consultative Assembly, the law and so
forth -- is not to prepare students for the national examination
but to fully develop Indonesians. That's why if the national exam
is included in the national education system, students will only
focus their attention on how to pass this exam. They will study
hard only to reach the standards set in the exam so that they can
join good schools later.

A fully developed person -- the goal of Indonesia's national
education system -- is a person that believes in God and has a
noble mind. He must be skillful, healthy -- mentally and
physically -- independent and responsible. He also must be a good
citizen. How can a student become a fully developed person if
their quality is measured only from the result of a three-day
exam?

ALI DASNI
Padang, West Sumatra