Regular EBTA to be removed from curriculum
Regular EBTA to be removed from curriculum
JAKARTA (JP): Regular examinations (EBTAs) will no longer be
mandatory for elementary through to senior high school students
as local education administrations will be responsible for
evaluating students, officials said on Saturday.
"We still use the national examination (Ebtanas) as our
national standard to measure quality.
"But in line with the spirit of decentralization, the regular
evaluation through EBTA is no longer obligatory," Director
General of Primary and Secondary Education Indra Djati Sidi told
the media after the closing ceremony of the national coordination
meeting on Ebtanas here on Saturday.
Indra further said that there were five evaluation components
for elementary through to senior high school, namely homework,
daily tests, quarter period tests, EBTA and Ebtanas.
"The one that is mandatory is Ebtanas. And some schools feel
that their quarter period test is sufficient and therefore they
do not need EBTA for their students," he said.
In the process of adjusting to decentralization in education, schools and local education offices are being given
greater freedom to determine the best learning and evaluation
methods for their students, Indra said.
"This is in line with the concept of school-based management.
"Therefore, it is now up to the agreements and commitment
between schools and local administrations in the regional and
provincial level to decide whether they still need EBTA or not,"
he said.
The agreement, however, must address several issues such as
the prevention of applying levies for such tests, he added.
Separately in Purwokerto, Central Java, Minister of National
Education Yahya Muhaimin said the EBTA fee would become the
responsibility of local administrations and schools.
On the Ebtanas scheme, a joint decree was issued on March 21
on standard procedure for the program and free Ebtanas for
elementary and junior high school students between three
ministers -- the minister of national education, the minister of
home affairs and regional autonomy and the minister of religious
affairs.
A Rp 161 billion (US$ 16.1 million) budget is available to
cover the expense of Ebtanas for 6,975,893 elementary and junior
high school students during the 2000/2001 school year.
Ebtanas usually takes place annually in May.
"This year, we're also providing emergency Ebtanas arrangement
for some 7,700 students who fled unrest in Sampit (in Central
Kalimantan) and are residing in refugee camps in East Java,"
Yahya told The Jakarta Post after the opening of a German-
Indonesia Marine Development seminar in Purwokerto.
Further data from strife-torn or disaster-hit areas are still
being compiled, the minister added.
The national coordination meeting also concluded that this
year three provinces -- North Sumatra, Central Java and West Nusa
Tenggara (NTB) -- would set their own Ebtanas test materials for
elementary school. NTB will also make its own test material for
junior high school students.
"NTB has set its own test materials for years, while the other
provinces will have the calibrated and tested exam material from
the examination center's test material bank," head of the
examination center Jahja Umar said.
Ebtanas is slated to take place from May 28 until May 31 for
senior high school students with an additional time frame from
June 5 until June 8 for those who fail to sit the test; junior
high school students from June 5 to June 7 with a reserve period
from June 12 until June 14.
Ebtanas for elementary school students will take place from
June 11 until June 13, with an additional reserve period from
June 18 until June 20. (edt)