New policy on national exams for junior, senior high schools
New policy on national exams for junior, senior high schools
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta administration will implement a new policy on the
upcoming final examinations for junior and senior high schools.
There will be a number of significant differences as compared
to the former final examinations, said Gito Utomo Purnomo, head
of the City Basic Education Agency to the media on Friday.
In the past, all material for the national exams were set by
the government. But now, the material would be set by both the
government and the schools.
The government would only set examination material in three
subjects: English, Bahasa Indonesia and Maths. Other subjects
would be provided for by the schools themselves.
The pass grade would be considered as a total average score of
6.0 and the required minimum score in each subject would be more
than 3.0. This is on a scale of between 0 and 10.
Unlike in previous years, the students' behavior at school,
commitment to school, and many other subjective factors would not
be a factor in a student's grade, according to Gito.
The accreditation status for students who sit the final
examination would also be subject to several changes.
Students who successfully pass the final examinations would
receive two certificates, one of which would certify that they
had finished high school, while the other would certify that the
students had graduated.
Gito said that a student could possibly finish school but fail
to graduate if he or she received a poor grade in certain
subjects.
The two certificates had different benefits.
With a high school certificate, one would be able to apply for
employment, but not continue on to higher education.
But those who failed their exams will still have a second
chance, he said.
The new policy is pursuant to Minister of National Education
Decree No. 017/U/2003, issued early in February, on the national
final examinations for junior and senior high school students.
About 135,000 senior high school students will take part in
the final exams, starting May 5, while the exams for junior high
school that will start on May 19 will involve about 223,000
students.