Indonesia's Ministry of Education clarifies TKA is not for student ranking

The Indonesian Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has clarified that the results of the Academic Competency Test (TKA) are not intended to rank students or educational institutions. Instead, the assessment is designed to map academic achievements and identify specific learning needs to improve the quality of education services.

Muhammad Yusro, Secretary of the Basic and Secondary Education Policy Agency (BKPDM), stated that the TKA serves as a national standard assessment to measure academic achievement in specific subjects according to the curriculum. The results aim to provide objective and fair information regarding individual achievements, which can be used as a validator for report card grades in the National Selection Based on Merit (SNBP) and as consideration for independent university selection processes.

Regarding the 2026 implementation, high participation rates were noted, with approximately 8.7 million out of 8.8 million registered elementary and junior high school students participating in the main assessment schedule. Officials have urged students not to view the TKA as a competition to determine superiority, but rather as an opportunity to identify academic strengths and areas requiring reinforcement.