Interesting given the fact that only this afternoon I was at an employers fair in Singapore and the topic of Indonesian staff hiring came up. Out of the leading businessmen and women I spoke to I was told repeatedly that nobody will hire Indonesians for top slots in companies, first and foremost for their lack of education then poor work ethic, zero discipline and culture of dishonesty. This is your international reputation Indonesia. Proud?

I don't know about now, but in my time, when i want to continue my study to university,the uni entrance exam is so much harder than school exam.

Not really surprising since my uni is one of favorite uni.

Each school have different level and it's already hard enough to create school exam that can satisfy many school in Indonesia.

But now that exam must also take into account the different level of uni too?

I mean, for some uni, national level exam are far below their standard. Not to mention exam can be bought and teacher helping student while doing exam.

Who cares whether there is a university entrance exam or not? It's meaningless anyway. People get into university here because they pay their way in - not because they have ability or intelligence. And when they get in - they , with the help of 'lecturers' cheat. What planet is this man on?

As an academic said to me recently - about 80% of university degrees and qualifications in Indonesia are not worth the paper they are printed on - or in most cases - not worth the bit of paper that the "students" or their parent's BOUGHT!

He also said - And 80% of academics and experts and professionals in this country haven't a clue what they are talking about because they dont know their stuff. Again because of their half-baked education.

Indonesian university students are notoriously lazy and illiterate and incapable of serious study.

And while I am on it - a leading business man said to me - Keep in mind here - most of the people you are dealing with have the maturity of 10 year olds.

What a farce!

There is NO integrity in the Indonesian exam system.

Last years pass rate for the national exams - 98%?????

Does this man expect intelligent people to swallow these lies?

The standard of education in Indonesian is deplorable at all levels and the government and this department in particular are simply lying to us about it.

They can boast as much as they like about national pass rates - they are simply nonsense and bare no resemblance to the reality in the class rooms. Whether or not teachers and students cheat - whether or not they give them the answers - the simple fact is - Indonesian schools turn out, year in year out, students who are incapable of achieving a reasonable standard of education, simply because they are not given one. The level of teacher competence and teaching skills is hugely inadequate. And it is getting worse.

Soon there will be a massive shortage of teachers as thousands of them approach retiremnt and no trained replacements in sight.