Wardiman insists on one written test for university entrance

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro yesterday turned down a proposal that would have required prospective students to pass a behavioral test before being accepted into university.

Wardiman told reporters yesterday that while the proposal had its merits, it is highly impractical.

The proposal came following complaints from university administrators that some students should not have been admitted because they could adjust to the discipline required in the academic community.

This was apparently in response to the recent wave of protests at state universities in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and other major towns. Student agitation has a long history at the nation's top schools.

Wardiman himself has criticized the protesters, and has constantly reminded them that a seat at a state university is a privilege only few people enjoy because their tuition fees are heavily subsidized by the government.

"The suggestion is very ideal, but it would be hard to implement. It would not be efficient," Wardiman said yesterday.

Seats at the state universities are highly prized, particularly those at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta, Bandung Institute of Technology and the Bogor Agriculture Institute.

This year, more than 400,000 high school graduates will be competing for the 72,000 seats at 35 state universities. The written tests will be held on June 21 and 22.

The tests include three core subjects -- Pancasila ideology, Bahasa Indonesia, and basic mathematics -- which must be taken by all participants. In addition, they have to pass the tests on their specialized subjects.

Wardiman said that the present selection system has been in force for 10 years and that it would not be easy for him to change it or add more subjects.

"There are experts who deal with the test. I cannot just tell them to change the test, delete Bahasa Indonesia and change it with psychology," Wardiman said. (01)