The implementation of National Exams (UN) 2016/2017 for junior high schools (SMPs), senior high schools (SMAs) and senior vocational high schools (SMKs), will likely lead to the risk of three exams.
First, we appreciate Culture and Education Minister Muhajir Effendy\'s decision to deal with honesty. To what extent do the schools, teachers, students and parents dare to acknowledge the success of the learning process objectively? The objective of the UN is to test the real capabilities of what has been learned.
Second, to test improvement, including with the computer-based national exam system (UNBK), which this year is reported to cover 85 percent of schools, the new method is designed to prevent the potential for fraud and accelerate the process of assessment.
The two honesty tests are followed by several “sub-honesties”. To what extent are the UN results utilized as part of mapping out education quality? To what extent is it proven that even though geographically Indonesia is very diverse, it needs a minimum standard in terms of achievement tests? To what extent is the squeeze between the achievement test and the aptitude test to enter higher education?
From the several “honesties” above, the most prominent is the test of honesty with oneself because the aura of the society is the aura of lies. When the school teaches honesty, the learners witness that honesty is harassed.
The daily environment is full of lies and the ends justify the means. The argument of lies of those who are against the UN is justified.
Sing jujur malah kojur (The honest will be unlucky). Honesty is an antithesis. In the case of UN 2016/2017, which is tried under tighter supervision and the UNBK system, the effort has been circumvented by the devotees of deceit. Integrity becomes relative.
What is no less important is the post-UN process.
Honesty remains a challenge to the educational praxis identity, especially in the assessment process and the announcement of the exam results.
The threat of dismissal from Muhadjir for teachers who are found to be dishonest needs to be appreciated. Not only for teachers but also headmasters or schools caught imposing their will.
The results of UN 2016/2017, which are far from falsehood and lies, will become a payload for mapping out the quality of the education praxis.
Undoubtedly, the UN results can be reconciled with the achievement tests of the school and the aptitude test to enter higher education. The aptitude test is still needed because success at secondary schools guarantees success at higher education.
In the future, the UN will gradually be removed at the next education level. The challenge is to organize the education praxis with the spirit of honesty.
