Jakarta (Kompas: 05/10/06) The government insists to maintain the national examination in 2007 even though the court has not issued any ruling concerning the litigation filed by victims of the 2006 national examination against the government. This fact is revealed in a Working meeting between the Commission X of the House of Representatives and National Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo in Jakarta on Wednesday (4/10).

Deputy Chairman of the House Commission X Masduki Baedlowi said the government is unwilling to revise the Government Regulation no 19 on National Education Standards which serves as a legal basis for the national exam. In the draft state annual budget (RAPBN) of 2007, the government earmarks Rp 250 billion for the national examination that will be held in April 2007.

"We agree to mark the proposal for the 2007 national examination which means it is still problematic and still has to be discussed further. DPR will summon the National Education Standards Agency (BSNP) because the Ministry of Education is always using the pretext that the national exam is administered by the Agency. If necessary, the National Awakening Party (PKB) parliamentary faction, along with other political parties’ factions sharing the same viewpoint will expressed disagreement against the national examination," said Masduki who is a member of the PKB parliamentary faction.

He asserted that the majority of Commission X members are against the policy to make the national examination as the only one that determines students’ graduation. Teachers should be the ones that determine graduation. Moreover, the grade of the subjects tested in the national examination should not wipe out the grades from other subjects. In a press release, Coordinator of the Advocacy Team for the Victims of National Examination, Gatot, said the National Education Minister’s persistence to maintain the national examination in 2007 is disrespectful towards the ongoing legal process.