Natasia Christy Wahyuni, Jakarta – Anies Baswedan, the minister for primary and secondary education, appears to be out to silence his critics by seeking to change two pieces of controversial education policies left by his predecessors.

Education experts and activists earlier expressed their skepticism that the former Paramadina University rector would do much to eliminate the much criticized National Examinations, or UN, and the 2013 revised school curriculum.

On Friday, Anies said that he aimed to change the much-dreaded national exam concept, saying it would no longer be a deciding factor in whether a student passed or failed school.

"The UN as a measurement to standardize the education system can still be used. But whether it will be used to decide whether [students] pass school is another matter entirely," Anies said.

The minister said he had been in talks with experts and activists about the two issues and found that the exams caused undue stress to students, with some even committing suicide after failing.

The underlying problem, many have said, is that the students' entire years at school are judged based on that one exam, overlooking other achievements and yearly performances. The exam also disadvantages students at vocational and Islamic schools because many of the subjects tested are taught only in regular state schools.

"The law [on education] emphasizes the standardization [of schools] as the crucial point [for the exams]," Anies said, and not to judge students' performance. "I'm trying to find a solution and how we can [change the exam] for the better."

Education expert Arief Rachman said the UN has made the national education system put too much emphasis on grades and not achievements and creativity. "I get why many students complain [about the UN]. [Why the UN is dreaded] makes a lot of sense," he said.

Anies said his ministry was also forming an independent team to evaluate the 2013 curriculum, comprising education experts and practitioners. "There have been several names but it is not final," he said of the team.

According to the minister the new team will consist of fewer than 10 members and will work closely with the government before the new school year starts in June.

"We want to get proper feedback on this curriculum. From there we will make a decision," he said, adding that the government could amend the curriculum or have schools re-adopt the previous one, which was introduced in 2006.

Anies said the 2013 curriculum was designed to put less burden on teachers and students, but in reality the opposite was true. "We want to know why that is so."

The school curriculum cut the number of subjects taught to students and dropped the sciences, English language and social studies in favor of instruction in Indonesian language, nationalist ideology and Islam.

Opponents of the plan have argued the curriculum will make Indonesian graduates less competitive than their global peers. They also charge the curriculum discriminates against those who cannot afford to send their children to private English and science study centers.

The Federation of Indonesian Teachers Associations, or FSGI, earlier said teachers were not ready and the necessary infrastructure was not in place.

The teachers' association also complains that the new curriculum presents subject materials that exceed the level of difficulty students can realistically be expected to achieve.

According to the FSGI, the new grading system, which aims to assess knowledge-based and psychomotor development, is also problematic.

Indonesia Corruption Watch has also criticized the preparation and procurement of new books for the curriculum, saying the process is riddled with graft and illegal appointments that bypass regular and official channels.

Anies has summoned education practitioners, experts and observers to brief him on the implementation of the 2013 curriculum, which has cost the state Rp 2.49 trillion ($204 million).

The high cost comes second, Anies said, responding to arguments that it is too late for the minister to scrap the 2013 curriculum because the government has invested too much money in it.

"There's an impression [among students] that education is a burden. I don't want education to be a burden. This is what we must change slowly," he said.

The minister staged a surprise inspection at a number of schools in Depok on Friday to check the facilities and talk to students, particularly those affected by the changes wrought by the new curriculum.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/aniess-education-reform-quiets-critics/