Students, parents crowd popular schools

Students, parents crowd popular schools

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

On the first day of registration at state high schools in
Jakarta, prominent schools were swamped by hundreds of junior
high school graduates and their parents, while less favorite
state high schools remained quiet.

Bambang, an admission member staff at state high school 8 in
Bukit Duri, South Jakarta, said that graduates applying for
places at the school reached more than 700 on Monday.

Bambang said the number of applicants surpassed the 358 places
available for new students.

"The number could increase as we still have three days of
registration left," Bambang said.

Meanwhile, only 168 students registered at state high school
24 on Jl. Lapangan Tembak in West Jakarta on Monday.

"We hope the number of applications will increase over the
next few days," said Nurdin, deputy principal of the school.

Nurdin said there were 213 places available at his school.

There were fewer students registering at less popular state
schools than there were at prominent state high schools, which
only accept students with a high grade point average.

The admission process runs from Monday to Thursday at state
high schools in the capital. More than 30,000 places are
available. There are 115,018 junior high school graduates
competing for places at state schools, with a further 154,507
places available at private high schools and vocational schools.

Bambang said his school had admitted students with grade point
averages of between 46 and 51 last year. The grade point average
was based on six selected subjects of the final test.

"But the standard may be lower than last year as the highest
grade point average attained by state junior high school
graduates for this year in Jakarta was only 49," he said.

Sutopo, a parent whose daughter had a fairly good average of
45, expressed confidence that his daughter would win the tough
competition.

"I have no doubt. She will obtain a place here or at one of
the other popular schools," he boasted.

Silviana, whose son had only a 39 grade point average,
complained that she had to carefully monitor her son's position
on the daily chart.

"If my son's position hovers at the lower lines on the chart,
I will take his documents and apply at other popular schools,"
said Silviana, who accompanied her son to register at high school
68 in Salemba, Central Jakarta.

Silviana said she also planned to register her son at high
school 78 in Slipi, West Jakarta, or high school 3 in Setiabudi,
South Jakarta, should her son not be accepted at high school 68.

Hundreds of parents appeared to be confused and weary milling
in front of the schools' admission offices. Some parents became
involved in short disputes with school staff over the admission
procedure.

Silviana said she had been forced to return home to get a copy
of her kartu keluarga (family card), which is one of the
documents required for registration.

An admission staff member at high school 68 in Salemba,
Central Jakarta, said the school prioritized students with high
grade point averages.

However, he said, should selection be tight because of the
limited seats at the school, other factors besides grade point
averages would be taken into account.

"For instance, if some applicants have the grade point
average, then the school will select those who have the best
grades in English, math or physics," he said.