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.