Schools authorized to determine exam results

(Source : The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Mon, January 12 2015, 9:42 AM)

The Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry has planned to grant the
authority to assess the results of students’ national exams to each school, believing that the
schools will be prudent in assessing their students.

“I have decided that there will still be national exams but schools have the authority to issue
the results. Schools have full authority to determine graduation. More details will come in the
next 10 days as they are still currently being discussed,” said Culture and Elementary and
Secondary Education Minister Anies Baswedan in a seminar on Saturday in Medan, North
Sumatra, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Anies said that honesty should become the main part of the process since the exams still play
the role as a parameter of success of the learning process.

He further elaborated that more should be done to improve the quality of teachers.

Anies said that teachers should be able to do more than deliver materials of a subject. They
should also inspire students.

Previously, in order to pass the national exam, secondary students had to score at least a four
in every subject and had to have an average score (that factored in the national exam, school
exams and reports) that was no lower than 5.5.

High school students who failed the national exam had to take another test the following year
or an equivalent test and receive a different kind of diploma than their peers.

The equivalency test was usually taken by anyone who had dropped out of school but later
wanted to obtain a degree that was equivalent to a high school diploma.

Many students reportedly experienced depression while others allegedly cheated on the exam
with their friends and teachers.

Aside from reforming the national exams, the government has also postponed the
implementation of the 2013 Curriculum as a result of insufficient support from teachers and
textbooks.

The 2013 curriculum, first implemented by Anies’ predecessor, Mohammad Nuh, has drawn
harsh criticism for creating confusion among students, parents and teachers, who have
complained about the extra work it demanded.

While imposing many changes in the learning process from the previous curriculum, the
government implemented it after only a one year trial.
Teachers have been reportedly struggled with the curriculum, which required more IT skills
as well as mastery in reading.

The ministry has ordered schools to return to the 2006 Curriculum, except for those which
have already implemented the 2013 Curriculum during the trial period.

Some schools, however, have refused to return to the 2006 Curriculum since they have
ordered students to buy textbooks and other materials to support the implementation of the
2013 Curriculum in the last July semester.

(Adopted : http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/01/12/schools-authorized-determine-
exam-results.html)
Text Structure

Main Event The Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry has
planned to grant the authority to assess the results of students’
national exams to each school, believing that the schools will be
prudent in assessing their students.
Elaboration “I have decided that there will still be national exams but schools
have the authority to issue the results. Schools have full authority
to determine graduation. More details will come in the next 10 days
as they are still currently being discussed,” said Culture and
Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Anies Baswedan in
a seminar on Saturday in Medan, North Sumatra, as quoted by
Antara news agency.
Anies said that honesty should become the main part of the process
since the exams still play the role as a parameter of success of the
learning process.
He further elaborated that more should be done to improve the
quality of teachers.
Anies said that teachers should be able to do more than deliver
materials of a subject. They should also inspire students.
Previously, in order to pass the national exam, secondary students
had to score at least a four in every subject and had to have an
average score (that factored in the national exam, school exams and
reports) that was no lower than 5.5.
High school students who failed the national exam had to take
another test the following year or an equivalent test and receive a
different kind of diploma than their peers.
The equivalency test was usually taken by anyone who had
dropped out of school but later wanted to obtain a degree that was
equivalent to a high school diploma.
Many students reportedly experienced depression while others
allegedly cheated on the exam with their friends and teachers.
Aside from reforming the national exams, the government has also
postponed the implementation of the 2013 Curriculum as a result of
insufficient support from teachers and textbooks.
The 2013 curriculum, first implemented by Anies’ predecessor,
Mohammad Nuh, has drawn harsh criticism for creating confusion
among students, parents and teachers, who have complained about
the extra work it demanded.
While imposing many changes in the learning process from the
previous curriculum, the government implemented it after only a
one year trial.
Teachers have been reportedly struggled with the curriculum,
which required more IT skills as well as mastery in reading.
The ministry has ordered schools to return to the 2006 Curriculum,
except for those which have already implemented the 2013
Curriculum during the trial period.

Source of News Some schools, however, have refused to return to the 2006
Curriculum since they have ordered students to buy textbooks and
other materials to support the implementation of the 2013
Curriculum in the last July semester.