Ina Parlina and Moses Ompusunggu, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo told Education and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy on Wednesday to think twice before moving ahead with his plan to scrap the national exams.
This was the first time the controversial issue of national exams was discussed by the Cabinet, following Muhadjir's public announcement that the exams burden students and the state budget.
While opening the plenary Cabinet meeting, Jokowi did not mention the exams. He only said that Muhadjir would present his findings. Muhadjir, a senior member of the country's second-largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, joined the Cabinet in July.
Presidential spokesman Johan Budi said, after listening to the minister's arguments, that the President concluded more thorough evaluation should be conducted. Muhadjir should take into account input and suggestions from other ministers and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who had openly opposed the plan.
"No decision has been made to scrap the national exams," said Johan, a former commissioner of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Jokowi will hold another Cabinet meeting to give the minister a chance to present his position on the national exam issue, said Johan.
Many teachers, academics and education activists have long been pushing to abolish the national exams, arguing that they are ineffective in measuring the national education system, as the quality of education varies wildly from one region to another. The supporters of the exams argue national standarization is needed to ensure quality of national education.
The Constitution requires the government to allocate at least 20 percent of its annual budget for the education sector, however, this obligation has never been met.
Asked about whether he accepted the President's decision on the suspension plan, Muhadjir responded, "All I can say is that I have explained the ministry's considerations [to scrap the national exams] to the Cabinet members."
Kalla said last week that national exams were still relevant as an evaluation of education. Later on Wednesday, Kalla said the reason to run a further review was because a type of national exam was still needed as a benchmark to boost education in the country.
"Without national exams, how can we improve education and determine a benchmark [to portray achievement] between regions?" Jusuf said as quoted by Antara News Agency.
Education expert Doni Koesoema criticized Jokowi's hesitation over the plan, saying that it was a move that "could worsen the country's education".
"Since being implemented 13 years ago, the national exams have failed to improve our education system. The national exams have forced teachers to only teach their students how to prepare for the tests, while, at the same time, students have grown accustomed to studying only for the exams," Doni said.