Computer-based National Examination (UNBK) may not be enforced in all schools this year. There are thousands of schools that are not ready. However, the level of SMA and SMK get priority in order to carry out most of UNBK. Effendy Muhadjir, Education Minister after a cabinet meeting at the Bogor Palace said that for SMA and SMK, the target is 80 percent, while 30 percent of junior high school.
Providing facilities for SMA / SMK easier because most are in urban areas. In urban areas, provided electricity and internet facilities were adequate so that computers stay given. Meanwhile, schools are forced to continue to implement the outskirts of the National Examination (Unas) using paper.
Different conditions occur in junior high school. Besides the location is spread to every corner, other supporting facilities may not be available with sufficient quality. In addition, the participant of Unas for more than a junior high school SMA / SMK.
Therefore, Muhadjir said that Kemendikbud not dare to set high targets above 30 percent. Facilities for SMP will gradually be filled. Hopefully, in 2018 UNBK SMP could reach 60-70 percent. Muhadjir will not impose UNBK for schools who do not have computer facilities and adequate support. The solution is a student of the school who cannot afford it must stay exams in another school
This year Kemendikbud capital expenditure budget in the form of 40 thousand units of the computer. Muhadjir add that we have put the end of January. Additional computer is expected to meet the target of increasing participants UNBK.
Socialization associated with UNBK continue to be implemented. One of them carried the Provincial Education Department of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Mansur, deputy head of SMAN 1 Gunungsari, Lombok Barat said that the one that is discussed is the phenomenon of schools that will join us in working UNBK to school ready.
The phenomenon of students riding the exam is actually not new. It has taken place in recent years. The number of schools implementing UNBK this year is very much due to lowered standards. Last year the school standards should implement UNBK is that having a computer and student ratio of 1: 3. That is, one computer for three students.
Mansur said the current standard was lowered. Enough has 20 computers can already UNBK. For schools with a lot of students, availability of 20 units of the computer is very risky. When they use a ratio system, many UNBK schedule that delayed due to take turns. It interferes with the next wave. In addition, there is the case of server goes down. In fact, the students and the schedule has been arranged. There are also cases of school boarders because the number of students does not meet the minimum standards as test organizer. For example, students are not up to 20 children. As a result, they must stay exams at other schools.
The government should immediately identify the schools facilities are not ready. Thus, all can be prepared. Because schools may not charge any fees to students, especially for public schools, the government should allocate funds for the needs of computers in schools. Namely, it can be from the budget and the state budget.
To deal UNBK, school work and teachers to prepare students of HR mental preparation to the exam content. We do not want the cost is expensive but it is not comparable with the results to be achieved. The frequency of examinations must continue familiarized with computers, for example semester exams or daily tests. If all the tests done with a computer it is not impossible next year UNBK execution quality will increase. So the next year UNBK can be implemented in all schools in Indonesia.
)* The author is CIDISS contributor