Introductory Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Limited Meeting through Video Conference On Strategies to Improve Indonesia’s Ranking in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Friday, 3 April 2020 at The Merdeka Palace, Jakarta
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
This morning, we will discuss strategies to improve Indonesia’s ranking in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we have decided in a Limited Meeting on Wednesday, 23 March to scrap the 2020 National Exam. I also consider this measure as a momentum to reformulate standard evaluation system for elementary and middle school education nationwide. Whether we only use the National Exam to assess the quality of national education or we will adopt international standards such as the PISA.
Indonesia have participated in surveys organized by PISA seven times from 2000 to 2018. The PISA surveys showed that education system in Indonesia has become more inclusive, open, and has wider coverage during the past 18 years. Nevertheless, I have received report that average test score of PISA in 2018 dropped in three competency areas, the more significant drop is in reading skills. Reading comprehension of Indonesian students scored 371 and placed 74th in rankings, while mathematics skills of Indonesian students scored 379 and placed 73rd, and science skills of Indonesian students scored 396 and placed 71st.
Based on surveys from the PISA, we can identify three main issues that need to be addressed. First, a high percentage of poor performance students. Although we know that Indonesia has successfully improved access for children aged 15 to education system, we need to make greater efforts to lower the percentage of poor performance students and manage the figure at 15 to 20 percent in 2030.
Second, the high percentage of students who repeat class is recorded at 16 percent. This figure is 5 percent higher than that of the average percentage of OECD countries.
Third, the high percentage of students who skip class. Based on the PISA surveys, we need to take measures to improve the whole aspects including regulation, budget, infrastructure, school management, quality of teacher, and teacher’s administrative burden. I have underlined the issue of teachers’ administrative burden several times before. It makes teachers lost focus on teaching process since they must spend more time to do administrative tasks. Please pay attention to this matter.
Not to mention the improvement of learning process, particularly the use of information and communication technology, as well as improvement in student environment including motivation to study and prevention of bullying at schools. And, results of PISA surveys and evaluation of the National Exam also show that there is a strong connection between social economic condition of students and their score in the National Exam or PISA.
I think that is all I can say to become our points of note and attention.
Thank you.
Translated by : Rany Anjany S
Reviewed by : Muhardi