The Indonesian Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has authorized flexible final‑semester exam arrangements for students in flood‑ and landslide‑hit areas of Sumatra, allowing local authorities to decide the safest and most feasible assessment methods.
How exams will be adjusted
Minister Abdul Mu’ti told the Antara TV Podcast that local governments now have full authority to choose exam mechanisms that match the condition of schools and the wellbeing of students and teachers.
In some severely affected schools, final examinations will be cancelled altogether, with semester grades derived from assessments completed before the disasters.
Where schools remain partially operational—often using a shift system because facilities are damaged—final exams will also be held in shifts.
Schools whose premises are heavily damaged may add students’ participation in community clean‑up activities to their character‑development scores, which factor into final grades.
Why the change matters
The flexible approach seeks to prevent further disruption to learning while acknowledging the physical and psychological toll on students after the late‑November 2025 floods and landslides that struck Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
Mu’ti emphasized that the ministry’s focus extends beyond restoring the education system to include the psychological and emotional recovery of students.
What could happen next
Authorities may continue to refine assessment methods as schools rebuild, potentially incorporating more project‑based or community‑service components into grading.
Analysts expect that if reconstruction proceeds slowly, the Ministry could broaden the use of prior‑term assessments to cover additional subjects.
There is also a possibility that mental‑health support programs will be integrated more formally into the school curriculum to address the trauma experienced by students.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exam options are available for students in the affected regions?
Local governments can decide whether to cancel final exams, calculate grades from earlier assessments, hold exams in shifts, or include community‑service activities in character‑development scores.
Which provinces were impacted by the floods and landslides?
The disasters hit Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra in late November 2025.
How many casualties and missing persons were reported?
As of December 13, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency recorded 995 deaths and 226 people still missing.
How do you think these flexible exam measures will affect students’ academic futures?
