State university entrance exams held with strict protocols

The Jakarta Post 11 July 2020

As Indonesia scrambles to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, some 703,875 test-takers are trying to keep themselves together in order to earn a place in one of the country’s state universities, all while following strict health protocols that one expert has criticised as “misguided”, writes Ardila Syakriah for The Jakarta Post.

Taking a computer-based exam (UTBK) is one of three ways high school graduates can earn one of the limited number of places offered at state universities in Indonesia, which has been trying to increase its university participation rate from the current 30.29%. The exams will be held in two batches, from 5-14 July and from 20-29 July at 74 test centres in cities across the country, including in the COVID-19 epicentres of Surabaya in East Java and Jakarta, with rooms at universities and schools being used as test venues.

The Institution of University Entrance Exams (LTMPT) requires body temperature checks on site and has advised test-takers to wear masks, face shields and gloves. But some local administrations and universities are now requiring test-takers to also undergo a rapid antibody test before sitting the entrance exam. Epidemiologist Windhu Purnomo from Airlangga University said the test requirement was “confusing” and demonstrated a “misguided” understanding of the function of rapid tests.
Full report on The Jakarta Post site

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