Second Day of Primary School Academic Ability Test Runs Smoothly Thanks to Synergy Between Bantul Regional Government and Multiple Parties

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) stated that the implementation of the Academic Ability Test (TKA) in Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region, ran smoothly thanks to the synergy between the Education Quality Assurance Agency (BPMP) DIY and the Bantul Regency Education, Youth, and Sports Office. The Head of BPMP DIY, Mohammad Adi Hartono, conveyed that overall, the TKA in Bantul Regency proceeded well with relatively minimal obstacles. “Overall, the TKA implementation in Bantul Regency went well. The obstacles that arose were generally related to electricity and internet networks, but they have been anticipated with provisions such as backup generators,” he said in a written statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. He explained that the Academic Ability Test (TKA) in Bantul Regency was participated in by 399 educational units (366 Primary Schools and 33 Madrasah Ibtidaiyah) with 12,663 student participants out of the total target of students at the primary school/MI/equivalent level. Based on field monitoring results, his side recorded that the implementation went well with support from cross-party coordination, although there were technical obstacles that could be anticipated quickly. In addition, he emphasised the importance of updating educational data as the basis for policy planning. He also highlighted the limitations of facilities and infrastructure that remain a challenge in several educational units. “The availability of devices such as computers is still a challenge, so some schools have to divide implementation sessions or utilise additional devices,” he said. On the same occasion, the Head of the Bantul Regency Education, Youth, and Sports Office, Nugroho Eko Setyanto, affirmed that the TKA implementation is part of strengthening the assessment system that has been prepared thoroughly. “This TKA implementation is not a sudden activity, but has been designed to encourage children to have better learning abilities and inspiration,” he stated. He explained that before the TKA, educational units had experience through the implementation of the Regional Education Standardisation Assessment (ASPD), which has now transformed into TKA and Regional TKA (TKA-D). Furthermore, he conveyed that the TKA results will become an important part of the educational journey of the students.