SOME 2.8 MILLION SCHOOL STUDENTS APPEAR FOR NATIONAL EXAMS

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, April 14 (Antara) - About 2.8 million students from upper secondary schools (SMA), senior high Islamic schools (MA), senior high vocational schools (SMK), and Packet C students appeared for a three-day long state examinations across the country, on Monday.          President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, through his twitter account, wished them luck for the national examinations, which was one of the stages they have to clear before taking up further studies at universities.          The format of the national exams held this year differs from that of the previous years. The results of this year's examinations will be used to gain acceptance at state universities.          "You must have high spirit while appearing in the exams," the President noted, expressing hope that students will perform satisfactorily in the national examinations.     "May you get satisfactory results," prayed the President.          The number of SMA, MA, and Packet C students appearing in this year's examinations totaled 1,644,713, while the number of SMK students taking the same exam was recorded at 1,184,987.

GOVT DESIGNS NEW EDUCATION PROGRAM TO REPLACE RSBIs

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 14 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is keen on replacing International-Standard Pilot Schools (RSBIs) with public schools after the Constitutional Court (MK) declared last week that RSBIs are unconstitutional.          "The idea of having international-standard schools in every district and city in the country should not be eliminated. So, we are designing a new academic programme to replace RSBIs with other schools of international standards," said the Minister for Education and Culture, Mohammad Nuh, on Sunday.          Last week, the MK highlighted the 2003 National Education Law, which requires all municipalities and districts in the country to have at least one such school, known as the RSBI.          Mahfud, the court's chief justice, said not only did the requirement go against the Constitution, but there was no sound legal basis for the existence of RSBIs. RSBI students are expected to pay more fees than their peers at regular public schools. The court concluded that the additional fees have "led to the commercialisation of the education sector".