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Revamped graduation standards unveiled by Indonesia’s Ministry of Education

Indonesia’s Ministry of Education introduces groundbreaking changes to graduation norms, emphasizing diverse final projects over traditional theses. This shift aims to align education with evolving career demands, sparking discussions among students and educators alike.

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1 year ago

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INDONESIA: In a significant development, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) has introduced novel regulations pertaining to graduation requirements for students pursuing bachelor’s or diploma programs.

Under the new guidelines, the obligation to produce a thesis as a prerequisite for graduation has been waived. This move aligns with the growing adoption of project-based curricula or analogous approaches in various study programs.

For students who are enrolled in programs that have already integrated project-based learning, the previous thesis mandate no longer applies.

Similarly, students in non-project-based programs can now fulfil their graduation criteria by undertaking a final project, which may encompass diverse forms such as prototypes, projects, and other analogous formats.

Importantly, these projects can be completed individually or collaboratively.

These innovative changes have been formalized through the issuance of Regulation No. 53 of 2023 on Higher Education Quality Assurance by the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nadiem Makarim.

The minister unveiled this directive during the Merdeka Learning Episode 26: Transformation of National Standards and Higher Education Accreditation on Tuesday (29 Aug)

Makarim elaborated on the versatility of these final projects, highlighting that they can assume various configurations, ranging from prototypes to projects and beyond.

He underscored that this modification does not preclude the option of pursuing a traditional thesis; instead, the choice rests with each educational institution.

Makarim emphasized the autonomy granted to heads of study programs in determining the yardsticks for assessing graduation accomplishments.

This approach departs from the earlier practice of exhaustively delineating graduate achievement criteria in the National Higher Education Standards.

The minister stated that higher education can comprehensively shape attitudinal and skill-based competencies in novel ways. He contrasted this with prior regulations where competencies were compartmentalized into knowledge and attitude domains.

In this context, undergraduate and applied undergraduate students were mandated to undertake thesis projects, while master’s and doctoral candidates were obliged to publish papers in accredited scientific or international journals, respectively.

Makarim argued that the contemporary landscape offers an array of avenues to demonstrate graduates’ capabilities and proficiencies.

He cited diverse study programs as examples, suggesting that alternative methods could more aptly gauge competencies for certain fields.

This strategic reform aligns with the Ministry’s objective to foster a framework for higher education standards that provides institutions greater latitude in defining competency requirements for graduates.

The minister highlighted that the dynamics of various fields, such as environmental conservation, warrant flexible approaches to evaluating competence beyond rigid thesis standards.

Netizens expressed widespread support for the updated regulations.

Netizens’ responses, sourced from the social media account “sosmedkeras,” overwhelmingly endorse the new regulations.

A prevailing sentiment among them is that the thesis imposition is unduly taxing, exacerbated by the challenges posed by supervisors.

“The most difficult part of the thesis was the supervisor. Luckily (I) had a supervisor who wasn’t complicated.”

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Many lauded the move, highlighting that the thesis’s impact on employability is often marginal compared to experience and certifications.

“Besides, the thesis has no effect when (you’re) looking for work or when you’re already working, it only adds to the burden on students, after all, what you see is experience or certificates when applying for work.”

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The decision was commended as progressive, enabling students to cultivate skills vital for professional success.

“You could say this is a progressive step, providing opportunities for students to develop the skills and competencies needed to be successful in the world of work.”

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However, the implementation of the new regulations is contingent on individual campus policies.

This has prompted discussions regarding whether institutions will opt to streamline the process for students.

“But again it depends on campus policy, now the problem is whether the campus wants to make it easier for students or not. I’m not sure about mine.”

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In a global context, the alteration resonates with practices abroad, where some international universities exempt undergraduates from thesis requirements and offer thesis-free pathways for postgraduate studies.

This aligns with the Ministry’s endeavour to promote modern and effective evaluation methods while, according to institutions, the prerogative to chart their distinctive paths.

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Education

Singapore to expand Higher Mother Tongue access in secondary schools from 2026

Singapore will allow students who excel in their Mother Tongue Language at the PSLE to take Higher Mother Tongue in secondary school starting in 2026, regardless of their overall PSLE score. The new policy is part of broader efforts to promote bilingualism and strengthen linguistic proficiency.

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5 days ago

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16 September 2024

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SINGAPORE: From 2026, students who perform well in their Mother Tongue Language (MTL) at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be eligible to study Higher Mother Tongue at Secondary 1, regardless of their overall PSLE score, announced Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing on 14 September.

Under the current system, only students with an overall PSLE score of 8 or better, or those with a score between 9 and 14 who also achieve an AL1 or AL2 in MTL, or at least a merit in Higher Mother Tongue (HMTL), can qualify to take HMTL in secondary school.

However, from 2026, eligibility will be based solely on their MTL performance.

Students will be able to study HMTL if they score AL1 or AL2 in MTL or attain a distinction or merit in HMTL at the PSLE, regardless of their overall score.

Mr Chan, speaking at the 2024 Mother Tongue Languages Symposium, emphasised the importance of supporting students with linguistic strengths.

“All of us have different strengths and talents. Some students may be strong in languages but not in other subjects,” he said.

“We will support more of these students to take Higher Mother Tongue, so they can learn their MTL to as high a level as possible.”

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to promote bilingualism, which Mr Chan described as a “cornerstone of Singapore’s education system” and a key aspect of Singapore’s national identity.

He noted that bilingualism not only helps to strengthen the country’s social fabric but also enhances cognitive abilities, such as empathy and the understanding of different perspectives.

In a related development, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced the launch of the MTL SOAR programme, which will begin in 2025 for Primary 1 and 2 students.

Under this programme, 30 minutes of the Mother Tongue curriculum will be allocated to reading and library activities, with the initiative to be extended to all primary levels by 2029.

The programme aims to support diverse learners by providing supplementary reading materials tailored to different proficiency levels.

Mr Chan highlighted the programme’s adaptability, explaining that “those who are stronger in mother tongue proficiency can read more books that are richer in content and be stretched in their learning, while those who need more support will have books that are more accessible for them.”

Additionally, as part of a pilot programme, MOE will extend the daily Mother Tongue curriculum at MOE Kindergartens from one hour to 1.5 hours, beginning with the 2025 Kindergarten 1 cohort at MK@Hougang and MK@Elias Park.

The pilot will be gradually expanded to more kindergartens.

The series of initiatives follows Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally speech in August, where he acknowledged concerns about declining standards in Mother Tongue proficiency and announced plans to enable more students to take Higher Mother Tongue in secondary schools.

Mr Chan underscored the cognitive and cultural benefits of bilingualism, stating, “The ability to speak two languages and understand two cultures enables us to maintain a strong link to our heritage and forge connections with people around the world.”

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Education

Malaysian man earns law degree at 77, proving education has no age limit

At 77, Malaysian retiree Zulkifly Abdullah graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree from Universiti Teknologi Mara, marking his second university degree earned in retirement. His story of lifelong learning has gone viral, inspiring many to pursue education regardless of age.

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1 week ago

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13 September 2024

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MALAYSIA: A 77-year-old Malaysian man, Zulkifly Abdullah, has proven that education is indeed a lifelong journey by graduating with a Bachelor of Law degree from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Selangor, Malaysia, on 4 September.

While many in their 70s may enjoy a quiet retirement, Zulkifly instead completed his second university degree in his golden years.

Zulkifly, a retired human resources officer and father of five, began his part-time law studies in 2018 and completed the program in December 2023.

His achievement has garnered significant attention online, with a video of his graduation, posted on UiTM’s official TikTok account, going viral on 9 September.

The clip, which shows Zulkifly smiling as he receives his scroll onstage to loud cheers and applause, has amassed over 950,000 views as of 13 September.

@uitm_channel

Warga emas berusia 77 tahun dari jurusan Sarjana Muda Pengajian Undang-Undang, Fakulti Undang-Undang naik pentas menerima skrol di #istiadatkonvokesyenuitm99 #Konvoksyen99 #konvo99 #usahatakwamulia #uitmdihatiku

♬ original sound – UiTM Channel – UiTM Channel

This is Zulkifly’s second degree earned during retirement. He first returned to school at the age of 60, enrolling at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) from 2007 to 2011, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in History.

His decision to study law came from personal interest, particularly due to his prior work in a ministry dealing with legal regulations.

In an interview with The New Straits Times, Zulkifly acknowledged the challenges of studying in his later years, especially in retaining information, but credited his family, lecturers, and classmates for their unwavering support.

He often discussed legal matters with his son, a lawyer, and sought clarification on various topics from him.

Reflecting on his journey, Zulkifly emphasised the importance of lifelong learning.

“Education is a lifelong journey. Law requires consistent reading and effort. If you have the opportunity, continue learning regardless of your age,” he said.

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