Media (25/04/07): The national examination is not the only one that determines junior high school student’s graduation. Students’ report card since their first year in junior high school and school examination will also determine whether a student graduate or not, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso asserted while he was visiting students sitting national exam at the State Junior High School  SMPN 19 in South Jakarta, yesterday. 

The governor was accompanied by the head of Jakarta’s Basic and Secondary Education Office, Sylviana Murni, and South Jakarta Mayor Syahrul Effendi. Aside of SMPN 19, Sutiyoso also observes the national examination at the State Islamic School Madrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri 3 Pondok Pinang and State Junior High School  SMPN 11 South Jakarta.

Sutiyoso said he was satisfied learning that the national examination went on smoothly. “It seems that the students did not found any difficulties in doing the exams," he said.

Just like the Senior High School national examination, Sutiyoso said, a student will pass the exam if his/her average grade is at least 5, with no score below 4.25. A student also pass the exam if he or she get 4 in one of the three subject tested but he/she should earn at least 6 in the two other subjects.

Sutiyoso expected that passing rate of Junior High School national examination this year will be better than that of last year. “Passing rate in 2006 reached 99.84%. We hope it will be better this year," Sutiyoso said. The result of the national examination will be announced on June 23.

136,054 students from 1267 Junior High School  / Islamic Junior High School (MTs) join the national examination, which includes, 121,898 students from state-run and private junior high schools, 13967 students from private and state MTs, and 180 students from special schools for children with disabilities (SMPLB). The 1,267 schools include 1,028 state-run and private junior high schools, 213 private and state MTs and SMPLB.

Based on Media Indonesia’s observation, the first day of the national examination went on smoothly yesterday. Students of SMPN 19, for instance, said they were optimistic. “It was easy,” said Siti Shara Tassya. She and some other friends expect to get 9.

However, some students were absent. In West Jakarta, 137 junior high school and 23 madrasah students were absent due to various reasons.

“But they are allowed to take a make up test, on Monday (1/5),” said West Jakarta’s administration spokesman Rahmat. (DP/IJ/SM/*/X-10).