Tougher standards for new exams

Tougher standards for new exams

Syamsir Alam, Center for International Education,
Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia, Jakarta

This year's school final exams may be a decisive moment for
the Ministry of National Education in its efforts to improve
education in the country. It is reported that the national final
examination this month will impose a tougher standard for high
schools (SMU), and the same policy will also affect junior high
schools (SLTP). Unlike previous exams where almost of all the
test-takers could pass, those sitting the May exams may fail if
they cannot meet required minimum standards.

Therefore, the country's next graduates, according to the
director general of secondary education, Indrajati, will have
qualified as either "passing" or merely "completing" school. Only
those who pass can pursue a higher education. Other students will
be awarded certificates noting their educational accomplishment,
which can be used when applying for a job. However, those
students who fail will be given a second attempt.

The results of SMU final examinations have been often received
with skepticism. People question the criteria for graduating,
with many saying it is impossible to get information about an
individual student's performance. There are no reports about the
knowledge and skills students have acquired. Therefore, the exam
results cannot really be used as an indication of a student's
academic performance.

The national final exams so far are primarily designed for the
purposes of certification or graduation. For this year's exams,
while the government is committed to setting up tougher
standards, it has yet determined what standard criteria should be
used for making graduation decisions.

If the minimum score for graduating students has been set then
it should be disseminated to school administrators, parents and
other concerned parties.

The government should lay down all procedures related to the
final exams and inform concerned parties on why the specific
methods were selected. The government should be able to find the
right procedure for setting standard scores for graduating
students and share this knowledge with all concerned people.

The use of standard scores for graduation can minimize
problems with exams and provide a sound theoretical basis for
educational decisions. Standard setting is a technique used to
determine a passing score for students (test-takers) in a
particular test.

To enable examination administrators to make an objective
decision criteria should be set before choosing any particular
method or technique for that purpose.

Two key issues emerge in establishing the passing standard of
exams. First, standard setting involves political as well as
psychometric concerns. Second, standard setting is at heart a
judgmental operation. Although there are many different
procedures for standard setting currently in use, all of them
rely at some point on human judgment. Therefore it is better to
involve as many people who have expertise in education as
possible in the decision-making process.

Even though none of the techniques perfectly fit our
situation, we can make some changes and adjustments so that we
can resolve the problems of the national final examinations.

Any efforts by the government to improve education should be
welcomed, however, it should be done transparently and in
cooperation with all concerned parties.