Nadiem Makarim: National Exam Not Ended, Yet Dramatically Changed

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim clarified that national examination or commonly known UN (Ujian Nasional) was not removed but replaced with the minimum competency assessment and character survey.

“National exam is not erased. The word ‘erased’ is only used by media to attract people to click it,” said Nadiem during a meeting with Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta, Thursday, December 12.

Nadiem stressed that they will drop the format of school subjects. The composition of the minimum competency assessment is similar to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which consists of tests on students’ literacy and numerical competence. And also, a character survey.

"But indeed this is a dramatic simplification," he admitted.

Starting in 2021, the implementation of the national exam which evaluates students’ competency on school subjects will see its format revamped with the minimum competency assessment and character survey.

This is part of the four points of Merdeka Belajar educational policy announced by Nadiem Makarim earlier. The other three points are returning the authority of the standardized national school exam (USBN) to schools, simplifying teachers’ lesson plans or RPP, and increasing the quota of achievement paths or jalur prestasi in the school enrollment selection (PPDB).

ANTARA