Students of state senior high school SMA Negeri 5 take part in the computer-based national exams with the subject of Bahasa Indonesia in Surabaya on Monday (10/4). Up to 156,710 SMA students took part in the national exams.
The advantage of digital technology in a computer-based system for national exams seems to have become the ultimate weapon in the debates over the tests.
In reality, the computer-based national exams (UNBK) are only a means because the main substance of the debate remains whether the national exams are still needed. A rise of enforceable honesty has not answered the question. The national exams as a test of the knowledge retention is part of the minimum requirement of standardization. In that context, the computer-based national exams are a necessity. Various improvement means are just technical measures to support opinions about the importance of the national exams.
Out of the 7.7 million students from about 98,000 junior and senior high schools, 48.93 percent have already used the computer-based system, which drastically reduces fraud. The numbers of cases in which teachers have sold exam materials are small and infrequent, compared to in previous years. The decline in fraud is not primarily because of the system, but because of a change in policy.
The other 51.07 percent of schools that have not used the computer system are relatively easy to handle. Blackouts are easy to overcome. No less important is the improvement of the exam materials in line with regional conditions.
If a pass is assessed from school exams and daily report cards, cheating will be reduced. The schools spearheaded by their teachers can organize educational praxis in line with pedagogical principles.
With the aim of improving quality and equality, the computer-based national exams need to be done many times in one school year. Once at mid-year and once at the end of the school year, for example, could meet the objectives. The costs for the computer-based national exams are much greater than the national exams on paper with pencils, but they are easier to implement.
National exams, school exams and daily reports on students are all necessary. The three form the basis for improvement.
