Student exams may be free: Minister

SEMARANG: Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo announced on Thursday that there must be no charge demanded from students for the national exams scheduled for May and June.

"The government has allocated Rp 250 billion for the exams and there must not be any charge for it," Bambang said during a visit to Semarang, Central Java, to monitor the preparations of the upcoming national exams there.

Despite the House of Representatives approving the immediate distribution of the money last week, many schools have not yet received any of the money, however Bambang promised to deliver it to them this week at he latest.

The minister said local administrations would be authorized to impose sanctions on schools found to be demanding exam fees from their students.

The national exams will be held on May 30 through June 1 for senior high school students and on June 6 through June 8 for junior high school students. --Antara