The Socialization and Promotion Team for the 2023 National Selection of New Student Admissions (SNPMB) at Malikussaleh University has begun to work in various regions. During the socialization in Bireuen, a number of SMA and SMK principals made a number of suggestions for improving the selection process going forward.
In a discussion about SNPMB and the 2023 Computer-Based Writing Test (UTBK) at the Education and Culture Office Branch Office in Bireuen, Tuesday (7/2/2023), several school principals described the conditions faced by students. Most said that economic conditions made many students not interested in continuing their education to tertiary institutions.
I (right) in a socialization activity about entering a state university in Indonesia.
If anyone is interested and the student is eligible to become a prospective student through the National Selection Based on Achievement (SNBP), the student's parents forbid them from continuing their studies.
“Currently there are 130 students in our school and only one child is a civil servant. Most of the students' parents are farm laborers who sometimes just don't have enough to eat. As many as 20 third grade students are interested in going to college, but the family's economic conditions do not allow it," said Nurul Aini from Jeunieb 1 Senior High School.
Teachers at SMA Negeri 1 Jeunieb often hold meetings with third grade students. Students who are interested in studying cannot attend tutoring because there is no cost, even if it's only for transportation. Finally, tutoring is only done in makeshift schools, without adequate facilities.
"Under such conditions, can Malikussaleh University give priority to us?" asked Nurul Aini.
The same thing was conveyed by Rahmawati from SMA Negeri 1 Juli. Of the 85 students in 2022, only 9 are interested in studying.
“But 5 people later withdrew due to economic reasons. Has our school been blacklisted because a student withdrew for economic reasons?” asked Rahmawati who hoped that students from her school could stay at the Unimal hostel because they could not afford to pay the boarding fees.
Rahmawati further revealed that in 2023 there will be 95 prospective graduates at SMA Negeri 1 Juli. Of these, only 14 wanted to go to college.
Head of SMA Negeri 1 Simpang Mamplam, Hasan Basri, said that this year there are 18 students who are being prepared to continue their education at university and hope they can get KIP-College scholarships. Meanwhile in 2022, there are only 6 students studying and all of them are at Malikussaleh University.
Meanwhile, Feri Irawan from SMK Negeri 1 Jeunieb suggested that socialization about higher education should not be carried out just before the acceptance of new students. He hopes that there will be socialization from the campus directly to the students concerned. He also reminded that many potential students at his school were unable to continue their studies due to financial constraints.
Previously, the Head of the Bireuen District Office of Education and Culture, Abdul Hamid, M.Pd, reminded that there are many quality universities in Aceh today, so there is no need to look for campuses outside Aceh. He gave the example of his son who was accepted at a university in Java.
"After I saw it, the condition of our campus in Aceh is much better," he said, mentioning a private campus in Bireuen.
On that occasion, Abdul Hamid opened up opportunities for Malikussaleh University to build cooperation with various high schools in Bireuen Regency. "If Unimal has a target school here, we are ready to facilitate it," he said.
Abdul Hamid also mentioned the use of School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds which are still misunderstood, even by those who claim to be education experts. According to him, the number of students is indeed a reference for the amount of BOS funds, but it is not divided among each student. "Although at first glance it looks like a lot of budget, what is managed directly by the school is very small," he said. [Ayi Jufridar]
