VP INSPECTS NAT'L EXAMINATION AT AL AZHAR SCHOOL

Jakarta, March 22 (ANTARA) - Vice President Boediono on Monday morning inspected the implementation of the National School Examination (UN) at the Al Azhar high school in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

"I hope students of the school here can participate in the test fully so they will all achieve the expected results," the vice president said.

The vice president spent less than two minutes inspecting two class rooms where the test was held because he did not want to disturb the students.

Boediono was serious during the visit and once in a while said a few words to teachers supervising the test.

The vice president went to Al Azhar after inspecting the same process at the Bulungan high school SMAN 70 in South Jakarta.

Her he told newsmen that the objective of the national examination was to improve the standard of education in the country.

"All students in the country should be thankful for the national examination activity because it is intended to measure the level of their scholastic abilities and to improve the standard of national education," Boediono said.

He said that besides improving the standard of education, the national examination was also used to measure the fairness and the honesty of the participating students.

As an academic, the vice president said, he he really cared about the quality of national education.

"I would like to have first hand information about the process of the National Examination, and I find here (SMAN 70) that the the test has been organized in a good and efficient way and I hope this is the case at all other schools across the country," Boediono said.

According to him, the students' enthusiasm to take part in the test appeared to be good.

"I hope the aspect of honesty during the test will be maintained because it is very important to have fair test results," the vice president said.

Accompanied by National Education Minister Muhamad Nuh, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono, Religious Affairs Minister Surya Dharma Ali, State Minister for Administrative Reforms EE Mangindaan, and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo, Boediono on the occasion also expressed high appreciation for the national education minister and the teachers who had made good preparations for the test.