President Wants National Exams For SMP Students Well Prepared

Jakarta, April 17 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked the Ministry of Education and Culture to be well-prepared in conducting the national examinations for Junior High School (SMP). "Lest the distribution of test materials of national exams for SMP be late again as it was for Senior High School (SMA) level. Everything must be checked in advance and well preparation should be made," the president said in his twitter account @SBYudhoyono on Wednesday. The national exams for SMA was thrown into disarray by late delivery of test materials to some schools, and therefore the president wants it run well and smoothly for SMP level next week. President Yudhoyono asked the Education Ministry to make well preparation for SMP national exams, and to check the reason why the distribution of test materials for SMA was late. "In order that the national exams for SMP can run smoothly, I have instructed the education and Culture minister to cooperate with governors, district heads, and mayors," the president said. "In this emergency situation, the Ministry of Education and Culture should set up some command posts and work around the clock. All parties should be responsible," Yudhoyono went on. Meanwhile, Deputy House Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said here on Monday that the education and culture minister should be responsible for the delay in the distribution of national exam materials for Senior High Schools in a number of regions. "I heard that the delay in the distribution of examination papers had resulted in the postponement of the exams for one to two days in a number of regions," Deputy House Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said here on Monday. He said that with whatever reason, the delay in the distribution of the examination papers should have not happened. "The bad implementation of national exams this year has tarnished the credibility of national education," he said. Priyo, who is a Golkar Party politician, said that the government should continue to assure that there would be no leakage of examination papers.