Stop Making Students As Experimental Rabbits!

JAKARTA Ahead of the New School Academic Year 2025/2026, policy changes in the world of Indonesian education have returned to the public spotlight. The policy changes discussed by the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, among others, are the concept of Deep Learning, the whole of high school students and the application of the Academic Ability Test (TKA) as a substitute for UN.

Mu'ti reasoned that the return of the IPA, IPS, and Language subsidiaries system in SMA starting from the new school year 2025/2026 is to support the implementation of foreign workers as a substitute for UN which will be based on certain subjects. This is because foreign workers will be the basis for continuing their education to the Segubgga college. It is hoped that in the future there will be no more cross- major collections.

In fact, the elimination of majors in high school, which is part of the Merdeka Curriculum program, is intended to provide space for students to explore career interests, talents, and aspirations. In 2024, the Head of the National Standard Agency for Curriculum and Education Assessment (BSKAP) of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Anindito Aditomo revealed that the elimination of majors in high school removed discrimination against students majoring in non-IPA during the new student national selection.

This statement certainly contradicts the goal made by Abdul Mu'ti that the return of allotment in high school is to reduce cross-dept. This means that not a year after the policy of giving space for freedom to explore career aspirations, now the supervisory system that from the start limits and directs students' interests before entering higher education is returned again.

The National Coordinator of the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), Ubaid Matraji, assessed that foreign workers reflect serious problems in the Indonesian education system, where students/children are always used as experimental rabbits, and objects that are always tested.

The ironism of the many tests carried out by schools, is not at all recognized by the government and campuses, so campuses must retest, and also the government must hold foreign workers. This is a bad portrait because there is no trust among education managers. This can happen because the world of school and our education is filled with manipulation, corruption, and also washing values. This must be fixed from above to the lower level," he explained.

According to him, the whole thing, changes to the curriculum, or the college selection system are complex issues that actually require a holistic approach. Therefore, the government should not continue the bad tradition of changing the minister of policy, which causes confusion for students, parents, teachers, and the community.

The issue of changing policies causes many problems and makes our education even more sluggish and lag behind the quality of education in our neighboring countries. Curriculum in Indonesia is often changed as a legacy of the politics of the new minister, not based on long-term evaluations. As a result, teachers and students continue to adapt to a changing system and that hinders the learning process," said Ubaid.

Adherence

Education observer Muhammad Rizal believes that allotment is merely a classification of science clumps, not a different level of student intelligence. Therefore, changes in sub-district policies are considered too hasty and not based on adequate academic studies Actually, this department is only a classification to determine the science clumps in secondary education. However, it is unfortunate that there is a dichotomy in the community that says that IPA children are smarter than IPS children," he added.

The same thing was conveyed by an education observer at the Semarang State University, Edi Subkhan, who said that the abolition was also based on considerations to give students the opportunity to choose subjects that were in demand to support further studies that had a variety of study programs.

"If we want our education to progress, in the sense of providing the best service for our children for the exploration of interest and potential, then we can learn from our neighbors in Australia, New Zealand, for example, or Finland, there is no strict area, let alone divided into only IPA, IPS, and Language," he explained.

He gave an example, in Singapore there is a streaming term that is similar to bawangan, but only divided into two, namely science streaming and art streaming, with students still given the freedom to choose a combination of subjects.

"With flexibility and choice, we can see outcomes from education in Australia, New Zealand, Finland, and Singapore. With all corners, it is precisely a limited student choice and is not compatible with the increasing variety of majors or study programs that are developing in universities now," added Edi.

He stated, to support the control of subjects that will be tested in foreign workers, they do not need improvements. Because what is needed is the seriousness of the teacher to accompany students to study, stage by stage, and provide feedback.

"If students are not optimal in mastering the subject, right? Control of subjects is not related to the management of the subjects, but to daily learning activities by ensuring students master the basic concept before learning the next material, not with the whole thing," said Edi.

Different opinions were expressed by Darmaningtyas education observers. According to him, the IPA, IPS, and Language subsidiaries at the high school level are more effective than the Merdeka Curriculum. This is because the high school alleviation system, which has been implemented since the 1960s era, is still very relevant to the current needs of education.

"Why is it relevant? Because this system provides a clear scientific basis for every student. This makes it easier for students to choose studies programs in universities and help universities in selecting students according to their scientific fields," he said.

He assessed that the 2013 Curriculum was still more effective because it was more structured and focused on developing general competencies. With the supervisory system, school governance becomes more efficient, including in designing the number of students in each department, the needs of teachers, and the subjects in demand.

Education observer at Sebelas Maret Solo University, Tunjung W Sutirto, assessed that changing policies in the world of education in every government is caused by the disease epistimology, which is related to methods or ways to get to the destination. Because, so far, Indonesia has always been hit by a method problem. Change leaders, definitely change the method again, including education issues," he said.

He suggested that the government make a method formulation so that it is systemized and can become a reference for any of its leaders. That way, there is no need for a change of method for every change of leadership, including related to the education curriculum in Indonesia. And in the end, Indonesia's great vision and mission towards the golden era in 2045 can be achieved. Contohlah Korea Selatan and Japan who have a very firm vision. Unlike Indonesia's vision which always changes," he said.