Jakarta (Suara Pembaruan: 14/11/06) National Education Standards Agency (BSNP) is currently preparing a standard content for equivalency education that will serve as guidelines for equivalency education program management in Indonesia. Hopefully, the standard will not be a ‘meaningless toll’ or good in concept, but very weak in its implementation.

Equivalency Education content standards is also expected to be enacted as National Education Minister’s Regulation, therefore, it could be followed by those responsible for its implementation both in central and regional level. These expectations were raised in the "Public Consultation of Equivalency Education Content Standard" held by BSNP in Bali on Sunday (11/12).

"We really hope that the standard we have prepared will not be a ‘meaningless tool.’ We have to admit that so far, equivalency education has given quite a significant contribution to the accomplishment of 9-year compulsory education program and help broadening access to basic and secondary education," said BSNP chairman Prof Dr Yunan Yusuf.

Vocational School

Meanwhile, Director of Equivalency Education at the Ministry of National Education, Dr Ella Yulaelawati, added that there are some considerations that have to be taken into account related to the demand voiced by the public to accommodate student failing to pass the national examination in vocational schools (SMK).

"We hope that this issue will be discussed as well in this public consultation. Equivalency Education Standard Content needs to respect the democracy, decentralization, justice, and should uphold basic human rights," she said.

Ella hopes that the explanation on competencies produced in the public consultation would be able to provide a comprehensive description of quality standard system which emphasized on two matters. First, performance standard, which explained how well is ‘good’ in a result of education unit evaluation. Second, competency standard, or the standards about what that students have to learn and capable of doing.