ASPD (Asesmen Standarisasi Pendidikan Daerah)

Thursday October 10th 2024

For some parties, standardized tests are still believed to be the best exit point of an educational level. It is said to be able to measure students’ achievement of that level. One of the parties who share the same belief is the Provincial Government of Yogyakarta Special Region. This is the only region in the country who strongly believes that we can never get rid of a standardized test from our education system.

Connected to the Government’s policy, Al Azhar 55 grade 6 students take the ASPD exam in addition to the Cambridge checkpoint test. Taking the exam aims to assess the quality of education in our school and it also serves as a selection tool to enter public junior high schools. The ASPD exam assesses proficiency in three subjects: Mathematics, Bahasa Indonesia and Science. It is important to note that ASPD scores do not determine a student’s graduation status.

The ASPD exam, also known as ASPDBK (Asesmen Standarisasi Pendidikan Daerah Berbasis Komputer (Computer-Based Regional Standardized Assessment)). It is conducted using a semi-online Computer-Based Testing (CBT) format in the IT lab. Prior to taking the main exam, students take the ASPD Tryouts at the district, regency, and province levels. The main ASPD exam will span three consecutive days from May 20nd to May 22th, 2024.

Given its distinct format and content, the ASPD exam poses a significant challenge for students, particularly those accustomed to the Cambridge curriculum. Language proficiency is particularly noteworthy as a difficult aspect of the examination. To better prepare students for success in the ASPD exam, schools offer specialized supplementary instruction known as PM classes (Pendalaman Materi (Intensive learning)). Students are grouped into smaller class sizes of 3-4 individuals with tutoring support to enhance their understanding and readiness for the exam.

(Mr Hudan)

Testimony

Prof. Dra. Hj. Suwarsih Madya, M.A., Ph.D.

Amidst the globalized situation which poses challenges of which one is a possible threat to identity, yet provides ample opportunities to excel for those who possess the prerequisites, we need to equip our children as the continuing generation with necessary competencies—affective, cognitive, psychomotor and interactive. In other words, we need to help them grow and develop into total persons and this can be achieved through the whole-child development approach which ensures the development of all potentials. In addition to this is the need for developing some competence which enables the children to communicate globally. All of this will ensure that the children will develop their citizenships both at the national and global levels. How can this ideal development be realized?

If you want to find out about how efforts are made to develop children’s whole potentials, you can come to SD Islam Al Azhar 55 Yogyakarta. Here you can see how the four-year old school has grown fast due to the stakeholders’ trust to send their children to study here. With only 54 children in the first year, this school now has 185 students. These students are educated to respect and preserve the social-cultural environment by learning the local language (Javanese, including the script) and arts (dance). Simultaneously, they certainly learn the national language (Bahasa Indonesia) and national content, which is unquestionable since it is compulsory, and English, which has now become a global lingua franca; thus, a prerequisite for successful global communication. More importantly, children in this school also learn to practise their religion consistently. So, in this school children’s identity is rooted in the local culture, with nationalism and global awareness being inherently developed together with reliogiosity.

Does the whole-child development approach at SD Islam Al Azhar still give room for children to excel? In my belief, when all their potentials are developed, children will have a greater chance to excel and I can see the truth in my belief in this primary school. In the last two years, the students have made great achievements in various competitions held at the local and national levels–gold medals in English, math and science competitions (national), silver and bronze medals in IT competitions (national), silver and bronze medals at colouring and swimming competitions (local) to mention some.

In conclusion, SD Islam Al Azhar has given evidence of the right efforts of true education to develop both intelligence and character.

Prof. DR. Budi S. Daryono, M.Agr. Sc.

Testimoni Sebagai Orang tua menyekolahkan anak Di Al-Azhar 55

Sudah menjadi kewajiban bagi orang tua untuk memberikan pendidikan yang terbaik bagi putra putrinya. Tantangan untuk mendidik anak di Era Global dan Digital pun semakin besar, kita tidak bisa lagi membendung segala perubahan yang begitu cepat terjadi, dan harus mempersiapkan anak-anak supaya bisa survive dan sholeh/sholehah tentunya. Saat ini dunia bagaikan kampung, dimana tidak ada batas-batas untuk melakukan transaksi kehidupan, untuk itu anak harus bisa berkomunikasi dengan bahasa universal sebagai modal utama. Disamping itu, pendidikah Ahlak dan Aqidah harus diberikan secara dini sebagai dasar anak dalam menghadapi gejolak gelombang kehidupan. Atas pertimbangan tersebutlah, kami selaku orang tua memilih untuk menyekolahkan putra kami tercinta Hikari di Sekolah Islam, yang menggunakan dua bahasa pengantar, yaitu Al-Azhar 55.

Prof. DR. Budi S.Daryono, M.Agr. Sc.