Indonesian Minister of Education Nadiem Makarim Announces Changes to the State University Selection Process

JAKARTADAILY.ID – Indonesian Minister of Education Nadiem Anwar Makarim announced some changes to how students can enroll in State Universities or PTN, during the Merdeka Learning Program Episode 22, hosted by the Ministry of Education, Research and Technology.

"First, the national selection is based on achievement, then the national selection is based on tests, and the third is an independent selection by PTN," said Nadiem at the launch of the 22nd Merdeka Learning Episode, on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.

Nadiem explained that the national selection based on merit will focus on awarding students for overall learning success in secondary education. The National Selection Based on Achievement also replaces the National Selection for State University Admission (SNMPTN).

This is done by giving a minimum weight of 50 percent for the average score of report cards for all subjects. By giving this requirement, it is hoped that students will be encouraged to excel in all subjects holistically.

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As for the rest of the weighting, a maximum of 50 percent is taken from the components of interest and talent explorers.

“Thus, students are encouraged to focus on the overall learning and explore their interests and talents from an early age. Later, students are expected to realize that all subjects are important and that they build their achievements according to their interests and talents,” explained the Minister of Education.

The national election based on tests, later, will focus on measuring reasoning and problem-solving abilities unlike the Joint Selection for State University Entrance (SBMPTN).

“This time is different. In this selection, there is no longer a subject test, but only a scholastic test that measures four things, namely cognitive potential, mathematical reasoning, literacy in Indonesian, and literacy in English. The questions in this selection will focus on the reasoning abilities of students, not memorization,” said Nadiem.

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"Cooperation between students and teachers through sharpening the power of reason will increase the success of students on the selection path based on tests," he added.

The third mechanism in the transformation of the selection into a State University is through an independent selection by State University. In this way, the government arranges for the selection to be held in a more transparent manner.

Prior to the implementation of independent selection, State Universities are required to announce several things, including the number of prospective students who will be accepted by each study program or faculty. Then the method of assessing prospective students and the number of fees or methods of determining the number of fees charged to prospective students who pass the selection.

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