East Belitung Dindik Bans Implementation Of Calistung For Elementary School Student Admissions

Head of East Belitung Dindik Sarjono (ANTARA/Ahmadi)

EAST BELITUNG - The Education Office of East Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province prohibits schools from implementing reading, writing and calculating (calistung) tests for admission of new students at elementary school (SD) education institutions. "There is a paradigm change, that now the child is 8 years old or who is in grade 2 of elementary school is still in early age, so it is not mandatory to be calistung," said Head of East Belitung Dindik Sarjano in Manggar, Antara, Tuesday, July 4. The application of this rule is due to adjustments to the Independent Learning Curriculum, where grade 1 to 2 elementary school children are included in the criteria for early childhood education. The educational pattern of children aged up to 8 years, said Sarjano, must apply the pattern of independence to play, which is instilled not to be good at reading, writing and calculating but rather to character education. "How do he respect his friends. The introduction of his school environment, his religion and others, so it's not to academics or calistung, ” explained Sarto. Educators are also expected to be more familiar with their personal or early abilities, considering that each child has different intelligence or abilities. "So our children, especially those under 8 years old, should not be burdened with too heavy lessons," he said. The mother of Early Childhood Education (PAUD) of East Belitung Regency, Purwenda Puspitasari, said that public schools that continue to carry out calistung tests when receiving new students (PPDB) will be summoned by the education office and children's parents will be given assistance. "So it will be advocated because the school has been given a circular letter that there should be no calistung test,” said Wenda. The wife of the East Belitung Regent, Burhanudin, said that the age limit for children entering elementary school is mandatory for 6 years so that children are more able to develop their talents and play freely. "This is starting with the March 2023 rules. So now if you are not 6 years old you are not allowed to enter elementary school,” said Wenda. Regarding the phicological test for children under the age of 6 who can enter elementary school, Wenda said that this school year can still be tolerated considering that several schools have already received new students since May 2023.

"But in the future it is no longer allowed, at the age of 6 years, you can only enter elementary school, there is no reason whatsoever, either a psychologist or otherwise,” said Wenda.