Computer-based national exam has many disruptions

(Source : Rizal Harahap and Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru/Jayapura |
Archipelago | Tue, April 14 2015, 6:59 AM)

Although the national examination of senior high school students ran smoothly across the
country on Monday, many disruptions in the implementation of the computer based test
(CBT), used for the first time this year, reportedly occurred.

After a surprise inspection at four schools in Jakarta before the national exam started, Culture
and Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Anies Baswedan said he was satisfied
with preparations taken at all schools, whether they used the paper-based test or the CBT.

“Thankfully preparations have been satisfactory so far, including for schools in the east,” he
said, adding that he hoped the situation in Jakarta was a reflection of the whole nation.

He said the ministry had received news that the first shift of students from 10 high schools
and vocational high schools in Papua had successfully started and completed the CBT with
little interruption. However, he noted, one school in Jayapura had momentarily experienced a
blackout during the last five minutes of the exam, which caused all the computers to shut
down.

Some 420 students at SMK 3 vocational high school in Jayapura were unable to do the test
simultaneously as a result of the shortage of computers .

“We only have 160 computers, while 480 students are taking the exam, so they must wait in
line. They are divided into three groups, 160 students in each group,” said school principal
Melkianus Mawene in Jayapura.

Apart from the shortage of computers, the school also encountered Internet connection
problems. “The exam committee planned to start downloading questions from 7 a.m. local
time, but the Internet connection was only available at 8:30 a.m.,” said Melkianus.

The computer shortage was not only found in SMK 3 but also in five other schools in
Jayapura.

Meanwhile, the CBT exam at SMA Cendana senior high school and public SMAN 8 in
Pekanbaru, Riau, was at one point disrupted by a disconnection from the central server in
Jakarta.

Riau acting Education Office head Dwi Agus Sumarno ensured that the trouble was not due
to the unpreparedness of schools in implementing the online exam.
“We could not determine the cause, but it seems the server at the Education Assessment
Center at the Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry is overburdened.
Bear in mind that every school carrying out the online exam across the country entered data
at the same time,” said Dwi.

As many as 37 students taking the exam at SMA Cendana had to wait for the network to be
restored. At SMA 8 in Pekanbaru, a computer was disconnected so students could not type in
their answers online.

An SMA 8 student named Siti Aisyah claimed she lost her concentration due to the
temporary disturbance.

“I was alarmed when the computer suddenly crashed. Fortunately, the technicians
immediately restored the failure. We waited for a while before resuming the exam,” said Siti.

Meanwhile, the exam, held at SMK 1 in Tinambung, Majene regency, West Sulawesi, was
delayed for several hours as a result of the central server. The students were only able to take
the exam at 1 p.m. local time.

According to the lecturer and the person responsible for information technology at SMK 1,
the file had been disrupted since Sunday, but connection with the central server was restored
on Sunday evening.

“The connection was restored and the file could be opened on Sunday evening, but on
Monday morning, the file suddenly failed when the exam was about to begin,” said Firdaus.

The file could be accessed again at around 1 p.m. after repairs at the central server. The test
was then carried out until 6 p.m., as the exam was taken in three separate sessions.

(Adopted: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/14/computer-based-national-exam-
has-many-disruptions.html)
Text Structure

Main Event Although the national examination of senior high school students
ran smoothly across the country on Monday, many disruptions in
the implementation of the computer based test (CBT), used for the
first time this year.
Elaboration After a surprise inspection at four schools in Jakarta before the
national exam started, Culture and Elementary and Secondary
Education Minister Anies Baswedan said he was satisfied with
preparations taken at all schools, whether they used the paper-
based test or the CBT.

“Thankfully preparations have been satisfactory so far, including

for schools in the east,” he said, adding that he hoped the situation
in Jakarta was a reflection of the whole nation.

He said the ministry had received news that the first shift of
students from 10 high schools and vocational high schools in Papua
had successfully started and completed the CBT with little
interruption. However, he noted, one school in Jayapura had
momentarily experienced a blackout during the last five minutes of
the exam, which caused all the computers to shut down.

Some 420 students at SMK 3 vocational high school in Jayapura

were unable to do the test simultaneously as a result of the shortage
of computers .

“We only have 160 computers, while 480 students are taking the
exam, so they must wait in line. They are divided into three groups,
160 students in each group,” said school principal Melkianus
Mawene in Jayapura.

Apart from the shortage of computers, the school also encountered

Internet connection problems. “The exam committee planned to
start downloading questions from 7 a.m. local time, but the Internet
connection was only available at 8:30 a.m.,” said Melkianus.

The computer shortage was not only found in SMK 3 but also in
five other schools in Jayapura.

Meanwhile, the CBT exam at SMA Cendana senior high school

and public SMAN 8 in Pekanbaru, Riau, was at one point disrupted
by a disconnection from the central server in Jakarta.

Riau acting Education Office head Dwi Agus Sumarno ensured

that the trouble was not due to the unpreparedness of schools in
implementing the online exam.

“We could not determine the cause, but it seems the server at the
Education Assessment Center at the Culture and Elementary and
 Secondary Education Ministry is overburdened. Bear in mind that
every school carrying out the online exam across the country
entered data at the same time,” said Dwi.

As many as 37 students taking the exam at SMA Cendana had to

wait for the network to be restored. At SMA 8 in Pekanbaru, a
computer was disconnected so students could not type in their
answers online.

An SMA 8 student named Siti Aisyah claimed she lost her

concentration due to the temporary disturbance.

“I was alarmed when the computer suddenly crashed. Fortunately,

the technicians immediately restored the failure. We waited for a
while before resuming the exam,” said Siti.

Meanwhile, the exam, held at SMK 1 in Tinambung, Majene

regency, West Sulawesi, was delayed for several hours as a result
of the central server. The students were only able to take the exam
at 1 p.m. local time.

According to the lecturer and the person responsible for

information technology at SMK 1, the file had been disrupted since
Sunday, but connection with the central server was restored on
Sunday evening.
Source of News “The connection was restored and the file could be opened on
Sunday evening, but on Monday morning, the file suddenly failed
when the exam was about to begin,” said Firdaus.

The file could be accessed again at around 1 p.m. after repairs at

the central server. The test was then carried out until 6 p.m., as the
exam was taken in three separate sessions.