Thousands rush to Senayan to see test results

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of senior high school students, who completed the 1995 matriculation exams for entrance into state universities, converged on Senayan's main stadium on Saturday, jostling to obtain the lists which contained the results of their labor.

As in previous years, the air at the stadium was colored by varying moods. Many students were laughing because their names were printed on the paper, while others looked sad as they realized that their names were not on the list.

A female student kissed the earth and embraced the paper tightly as soon as she knew her name was included.

"Alhamdulillah (praise God), I am so happy. I have to tell my parents now," Dillah said with tears in her eyes as she rushed to the nearest public telephone.

After she had made her call, Dillah ran back to join her friends, who congratulated her.

"I choose the Faculty of Economics from the University of Indonesia," Dillah, who was a student in a private high school in East Jakarta, said.

A male student, wearing blue jeans, jumped and shouted to his friends that his name was printed.

"I am very surprised," Andri said, adding that from the beginning he had been pessimistic of being accepted to a state university.

"I am not so bright," Andri, who chose the Faculty of Law in Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, said.

Another male student quietly folded the paper and put it in his pocket.

"I am not surprised. I realize it is very difficult to enter a state university," Agus said, adding that he had also registered his name at a private university in Jakarta.

A group of female students left the area as soon as they knew their names were not printed.

"I can't say anything, the exam was the only chance for me to study at a university. My parents cannot afford to pay for me to study in a private university because it is very expensive," Lina said sadly.

"I will try again next year," Indah said optimistically, adding that this year she might take a computer course.

Eight students in Jakarta did not pass, having been disqualified because they were caught cheating during the exams, which were held last month, an official of the local committee said.

"The signatures on their answer sheets were very different from those on their registration papers," Soesmalijah Soewondo, the examination committee chief for Jakarta, said.

According to Soesmalijah, Jakarta participants for this year, numbered 64,211. This amount represents a decrease compared with last year's 67,339. (01)