Preparation needed for 2nd round exams

Preparation needed for 2nd round exams

JAKARTA (JP): The government's plan to hold a second round of
final exams for primary and high school students who fail the
first time may be hampered by poor preparation because it came at
such short notice, an education expert said.

H.A.R. Tilaar, a professor at the Teachers Training Institute
in Jakarta, said on Saturday the government's move, announced
last week, was confusing and could affect the performance of
pupils in their final exams.

He also deplored the timing of the announcement, coming at a
time when pupils were busy preparing for exams, to be held
simultaneously nationwide in April and May.

"As an education planner, I suggest the government prepare
thoroughly," Tilaar told The Jakarta Post.

"Don't make announcement that confuse pupils and parents,"
said the director of the Institute of the Education Management
Development.

Usually, pupils who fail their final exams must wait until the
following year to take the exams again. The government is making
an exception this year because final year's students represent
the last batch being taught under the 1984 national curriculum.

The exams next year will be based on the curriculum introduced
in 1994.

Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro,
disclosing the plan last week, said the second round exams will
be held as soon as the results of the first round become known.

Given the considerable differences between the 1984 and 1994
curricula, Wardiman felt that it was fair to give students a
second chance rather than forcing them to study a totally new
curricula.

Those taking their finals, which will be held simultaneously
nationwide in April and May, are students in the sixth grade
primary schools, and third grade junior and senior high schools.

The government estimates that up to 6% of the total of final
year's students fail their exams every year.

Many school teachers reportedly have reservations about the
announcement and the timing. They fear that the announcement will
simply encourage students to take it easy, knowing that they will
be given a second chance. (31)