Is National Examination Necessary?

The national examination has become a hot topic to discuss in Indonesia. The main
controversy regarding national tests is whether or not it is necessary to continue the national
exams (UN). Some other debates focus on whether the quality of Indonesian education
depends on the national exam and whether the quality of the Indonesian education system will
worsen without a national exam.
Those who support the national exam, believe that the quality of the Indonesia
education system will get worse without the national exam, so they try to defend the current
system. They also believe that the national exam can be used to measure how far educational
program designed by the government works.
However, for those who disagree with national exam, the result of national exam can’t
give the clear image of students’ ability in general since the issues of cheating always happen.
Furthermore, the national exam only measures a small portion of students’ competence in
specific subjects and does not measure students’ competences throughout the semester.
Above all, the national examination can still be used as an instrument to evaluate the
level of students’ cognitive competence in certain subjects, on a national scale.
Source : https://www.bola.com/ragam/read/5303118/5-contoh-discussion-text-yang-bisa-jadi-
referensi-belajar?page=6
QUESTIONS :
1. What is the issue being discussed?
2. What is the thesis statement?
3. What are the advantages of national exam?
4. What are the disadvantages of national exam?
5. Is the writer pro or cons to the text? Explain.
6. Do you think that national examination give more advantages or disadvantages? Tell me
why?
7. What are your personal view about national examination? Explain as clear as possible!