Students optimistic about passing exam

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Aryanto, 19, a student at the Angkasa private high school in East Jakarta walked smiling toward his motorcycle parked near the entrance to the school, where he had just finished the economics paper on Wednesday, the last day of the national final examination repeats.

"Pray for me, please," he asked The Jakarta Post.

During the exam, the atmosphere at the school was quiet. No students were to be seen playing basketball in the yard and no a sound was to be heard from the classrooms. This was because the school was hosting some 350 students who were sitting the repeats in subjects they failed the first time around last June. Most of them had failed math and English.

A total of 57 schools in Greater Jakarta are playing host to the 20,728 students who either failed one or more subjects or didn't sit the exams the first time around.

Aryanto said that the economics paper this time was as difficult as the first one, which he failed.

Despite his smile, Aryanto said that he was nervous and couldn't wait until the results were announce on Sept. 3.

"I have been accepted by Persada Indonesia University to study communications. The term starts on Sept. 12," he said, adding that the university would wait for him to get his school leaving certificate.

Taufik Ramdani, who was sitting the three-day round of exams at the same school, said that he was not nervous at all during the test.

"I'm sure I will pass this time," said the 19-year-old, a basketball player whose stands some 190 centimeters tall.

He said that he would continue playing basketball for his club Indonesia Muda.

"After finishing high school I might take an English course at night besides playing basketball," he said.

Meanwhile, another student, 17-year-old Desak Nyoman Rina, said she was happy with her math paper.

She said that the questions were easier this time around than the first time.

Rina's mother has already enrolled her to study English at a private university.

Rina said that give her better preparation this time, including taking a one-month private tutorial course provided by her school, she believed that she would pass the exam.

Parents and teachers who accompanied their offspring to the exam venue also said they were hoping for better results this time.

"When my daughter failed the exams in June, I was really disappointed. But hopefully it will all turn out right in the end and we can all look forward to a better future. I strongly believe that God has a great plan for my daughter," said one mother, adding that her daughter would undergo a psychological test at a city-owned nursing academy at 3 p.m. after finishing her examination.

Winarto, the deputy principal of the Adi Luhur High School in East Jakarta, also expressed confidence that his 16 students would pass the repeats.

"If they fail again, then they will have two choices -- going back to school for another year or taking a three-month course at special tuition schools designated by the government.

"But I hope they will all pass the exam," Wintarto said. (004)