No problems on first day of exams

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The first day of National Examinations for 124,621 senior high school students in Jakarta ran on smoothly Monday, with schools receiving their examination materials on time.

"This year's national examination is better prepared than last years," Jakarta deputy governor Fauzi Bowo said when visiting a number of schools, including state Senior High School SMK 27 and SMAN 68, both in Central Jakarta, on Monday.

The exams will run until June 1 (tomorrow).

Fauzi said that do far there have been no reports of schools charging illegal examination fees to students.

"Participants of national examinations are required to pay fees and so if anyone finds a school charging their students, please report it to us and we will impose sanctions," Fauzi was quoted by Antara as saying.

The city administration has allocated Rp 15 billion (US$1.6 million), while the Ministry of National Education provides Rp 4.1 billion for examinations in Jakarta.

He said that only third-year Technical High School students who will undergo skill examinations would pay examination fees.

"The city administration hasn't allocated any budget funds for them so we have reached an agreement from their schools committee that they will have collect a fee from their students," said Fauzi.

The results of the current national examinations will be announced on June 30. This year's passing grade is 4.26 for each subject. Students who fail the examinations can re-sit the exams from October 3 to 5, with results to be announced on Oct. 31.