‘Pass-out Challenge’ Timbulkan Kekhawatiran

The Jakarta Post, halaman 2, Sabtu 11 Maret

Ben Wilson Habas, 14 tahun, adalah seorang pelajar SMP yang gemar mengunggah rekaman kegiatan sehari-harinya di saluran Youtube. Suatu hari, ketika sedang mencari konten baru untuk diunggah, ia menemukan video di saluran Youtube Indonesia tentang cara membuat seseorang pingsan.

Tidak mampu menahan rasa ingin tahunya, ia kemudian sengaja mencoba tantangan “skip challenge” itu dengan meminta bantuan teman-temannya untuk membuatnya pingsan yaitu dengan menekan keras dadanya hingga ia kehabisan udara.

Ben berpikir tantangan tersebut sangat unik dan tertarik untuk mencobanya. Setelah mencobanya, ia lalu pingsan dan beberapa detik kemudian ia terbangun, namun ia merasakan telah pingsan dalam waktu yang cukup lama. Ben merekam kejadian ketika dirinya pingsan itu dan mengunggahnya ke Youtube pada tanggal 5 Maret. Namun, video tersebut telah dihapus oleh pihak Youtube pada Jumat lalu setelah banyak mendapatkan reaksi dan tanda tidak suka dari para pemirsa Youtube. Namun demikian, video tersebut sudah ditonton lebih dari 3.000 kali dalam kurun waktu lima hari.

Ben mengakui bahwa ia tidak melakukan penelitian terlebih dahulu sebelum melakukan tantangan “skip challenge” tersebut. Dia hanya mengetahui bahwa tantangan tersebut dapat menyebabkan hilangnya kesadaran, namu tidak menyadari dampak bahaya lainnya dari tentangan itu. Namun demikian, ia pun bersyukur karena dapat pulih seperti sedia kala setelah mencoba tantangan itu, karena beberapa temannya merasakan sakit kepala setelah mencoba tantangan tersebut. Setelah ditegur guru, Ben pun bersumpah tidak akan pernah mencoba tantangan “skip challenge” itu lagi.

Tantangan yang membuat orang pingsan itu dikenal dengan tagar #skipchallenge atau #passoutchallenge. Tantangan itu tengah populer di kalangan remaja karena banyak dari mereka mengunggah sendiri video mereka ketika mencoba tantangan itu di media sosial. Hal itu menimbulkan keprihatinan para orangtua dengan membuat pesan-pesan peringatan akan bahayanya mencoba tantangan itu.

Tantangan “pass out” diduga mulai ada pada akhir 1990-an dan menjadi terkenal ketika banyak remaja merekam sendiri saat mereka melakukan tantangan tersebut dan kemudian mengunggahnya di web. Pada 2016, seorang anak bernama Da’Vorious Gray, 11 tahun, dari Carolina Selatan, Amerika Serikat, meninggal dunia ketika mencoba mengikuti tantangan tersebut.

Seorang ibu siswi anak kelas lima SD bernama Elizabeth Santosa mengatakan, putrinya mengetahui adanya tantangan “skip challenge” tersebut namun ia tidak berani mencobanya karena sudah mengetahui kalau tantangan tersebut terlalu beresiko.

Elizabeth, yang juga seorang psikolog itu mengatakan, tantangan “skip challenge” itu diterima dan menyebar di kalangan remaja agar mereka dapat diakui oleh teman-teman mereka. Mereka mungkin sudah mengetahui akan bahayanya mencoba tantangan itu, namun mereka tetap mencobanya demi mengikuti trend yang sedang terjadi.

Ketua Pengurus Ikatan Dokter Indonesia (IDI) wilayah Jakarta, Slamet Budiarto, mengatakan, tantangan “skip challenge” sangat berbahaya karena dapat menghambat suplai darah ke otak. Hal itu dapat menyebabkan kekurangan oksigen dan dapat menyebabkan otak tidak berfungsi sehingga  menyebabkan kejang, stroke, koma, bahkan kematian. Slamet menyarankan agar para guru dapat lebih memperhatikan siswa mereka, sehingga tren ini dapat dihentikan.

‘Pass-out Challenge’ raises concerns

The Jakarta Post, page 2, Saturday, March 11

Fourteen-year-old Ben Wilson Habas is a junior high school student who loves to upload footage of his activities onto his YouTube channel. One day, when looking for new content, he stumbled upon a video from an Indonesian channel about deliberately making someone pass out.

Unable to resist his curiosity, he then attempted to try the “skip challenge” with his friends, making himself pass out by having people press hard on his chest so he would run out of air.

Ben thought the challenge was unique, so he tried it, after that he woke up seconds after he passed out, but it felt like he was gone for a long time. He recorded himself fainting and uploaded the video onto his channel on March 5, only to have it taken down by YouTube on Friday after he received a lot of backlash and thumbs-down from viewers. Despite that, the video had gotten more than 3,000 views in five days.

Ben said he did not do any research prior to his attempt. He only heard about it causing you to lose memories and he wasn’t aware of the other dangers posed by the challenge. But he was thankful recovered just fine after getting ‘skipped’ because his friends said they got headaches afterwards. After getting reprimanded by his teacher, Ben swore never to attempt to do the challenge again.

The fainting challenge, known by the hashtags #skipchallenge or #passoutchallenge, is gaining popularity among teenagers as many of them record themselves attempting to lose consciousness on purpose and upload the videos onto their social media, raising concerns for parents who broadcast warning messages regarding the challenge.

Allegedly started in the late 1990s, the pass-out challenge became popular when many teenagers recorded themselves doing it and posting the footage on the web. In 2016, an 11-year-old American boy named Da’Vorious Gray from South Carolina died during his attempt to fulfill the challenge.

Elizabeth Santosa, the mother of a fifth-grade student, said her daughter was aware of the challenge but did not participate, knowing that it was too risky.

Elizabeth, who is a psychologist, said that the challenge spread among teenagers because of their need to be accepted by their peers. She explained they may have known from the beginning that the challenge is dangerous, but did it anyway for the sake of following whatever is trending.

Slamet Budiarto, head of the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), said it such attempts are very dangerous because it cuts the blood supply to the brain, causing oxygen deprivation and it can stop the brain from functioning, leading to seizure, stroke, coma and even death. Slamet urged teachers to pay more attention to their students so the trend could be stopped.

Masalah UNBK Terus Dipetakan

Media Indonesia, halaman 21

Kekurangan komputer dan jaringan internet yang lambat menjadi dua masalah yang mengemuka jelang berlangsungnya ujian nasional berbasis komputer (UNBK) pada 3-6 April untuk SMK, 10-13 April untuk SMA/MA, dan 2-8 Mei untuk SMP/MTs.

Masalah kekurangan komputer terjadi di sejumlah daerah, salah satunya terjadi di wilayah Jawa Barat, terutama untuk jenjang SMP.  masalah tersebut disebabkan karena pihak sekolah tidak bisa memenuhi pengadaan komputer yang dibutuhkan secara langsung dalam satu kali belanja selain juga harus melengkapi kebutuhan lainnya. Hal itu diungkapkan Kepala Dinas Pendidikan Provinsi Jawa Barat Ahmad Hadadi, Minggu (12/3).

Meskipun begitu, Hadadi dan jajarannya berusaha mengatasi kekurangan itu dengan meminjam dari sekolah terdekat. Selain itu, menurutnya, komputer bisa dibeli bertahap menggunakan dana bantuan operasional sekolah (BOS). Dengan sisa waktu yang ada, lanjutnya, ia menegaskan sekolah masih memiliki waktu untuk melengkapi kekurangan fasilitas tersebut. Saat ini, penyaluran dana BOS memasuki triwulan pertama, yakni untuk Januari, Februari, dan Maret.

Jumlah peserta UNBK jenjang SMA/SMK/MA di Jawa Barat mencapai 430.428 siswa. Peserta jenjang SMP/Mts sebanyak 214.286. Jumlah sekolah yang menyelenggarakan UNBK di tingkat Provinsi Jawa Barat pada jenjang SMA/SMK/MA sebanyak 4.886 dan jenjang SMP/Mts sebanyak 1.541.

Sementara itu, pengamat pendidikan Doni Koesoema menilai keputusan pemerintah untuk meniadakan UN perbaikan (UNP) pada UNBK 2017 sudah tepat dan efisien, namun harus dibarengi persiapan matang berbagai pihak, terutama sekolah. Berbagai simulasi dan persiapan harus matang guna menghindari terjadinya kesalahan dalam pelaksanaan yang berpotensi merugikan siswa. Karena, pada tahun sebelumnya, UNP tidak terlalu diminati siswa, terutama siswa yang telah lanjut ke perguruan tinggi.

 

UNBK Constraints Continue to be Mapped

Media Indonesia, page 21

Ahead of the implementation of the computer-based national exam (UNBK), a number of schools have been constrained by a shortage of computers and slow internet connections. The UNBK will be held on 3-6 April for vocational high schools (SMK), 10-13 April for high schools/Islamic high schools (SMA/MA), and 2-8 May for junior high schools/Islamic junior high schools (SMP/MTs).

This problem of lack of computers, especially at the SMP level, is prevalent in West Java revealed the Head of West Java Provincial Education Agency, Ahmad Hadadi on Sunday (12/3). He said the problem was due to schools being unable to procure computers directly in a single purchase order, as well any other procurement requirements.

Nevertheless, Hadadi and his subordinates have tried to overcome the shortage of computer by allowing schools to borrow from those nearest. Computers can also be gradually procured by using school operational funds (BOS). Hadadi claimed that schools will still have time to procure computers as BOS funds will be available for the first quarter of January, February and March.

The UNBK participants in West Java have reached 430,428 students for high school levels (SMA/SMK/MA) and 214,286 for junior high school level. Meanwhile, schools holding UNBK for SMA/SMK/MA and SMP/MA total 4,886 and 1,541 students, respectively.

Meanwhile, education observer Doni Koesoema has deemed the government’s decision to abolish the remedial UN (UNP) in UNBK 2017 appropriate and efficient. However, many parties especially schools should carry out correct preparations and simulations in order to avoid any mistakes that could potentially upset students in the UNBK implementation. He said, the UNP was also of less interest to students who wished to continue their study in higher education.

Ribuan Madrasah Siap Gelar UNBK

Republika, halaman 12, Sabtu 11 Maret

Pemerintah akan kembali menggelar Ujian Nasional (UN) bagi siswa MTs/SMP dan MA/SMA. Direktur Kurikulum, Sarana, Kelembagaan, dan Kesiswaan (KSKK) Ditjen Pendidikan Islam Kementerian Agama (Kemenag) M Nur Kholis Setiawan mengatakan, lebih dari 4.000 MTs dan MA siap menggelar Ujian Nasional Berbasis Komputer (UNBK).

Nur Kholis mengatakan bahwa tahun ini 4.425 MTs dan MA yang siap melaksanakan UNBK, terdiri atas 2.063 MTs dan 2.362 MA. Dibandingkan tahun ajaran 2015/2016, jumlah MTs dan MA yang melaksanakan UNBK pada tahun ajaran ini meningkat tajam. Jumlah MTs dan MA yang menggelar UNBK pada tahun 2015/2016 hanya ada 98.

Perluasan pelaksanaan UNBK, menurut Nur Kholis, dimaksudkan untuk meningkatkan efisiensi, mutu, reliabilitas, kredibilitas, dan integritas ujian. Hingga saat ini, Kemenag kabupaten/ kota dan provinsi terus berkoordinasi dengan Dinas Pendidikan kabupaten/ kota dan provinsi dalam melakukan verifikasi madrasah pelaksanaan UNBK.

Sebelumnya, Kepala Subdirektorat Kurikulum dan Evaluasi, Direkrorat Pendidikan Madrasah Kemenag Syafi’I mengatakan melalui penerapan prinsip berbagai sumber daya, Kemenag berharap partisipasi siswa madrasah dalam UNBK meningkat. Dijelaskan, madrasah bisa melaksanakan UNBK secara mandiri bila sudah memiliki fasilitas memadai. Jika belum, siswa madrasah yang bersangkutan bisa bergabung ke madrasah atau sekolah di sekitarnya yang sudah memiliki fasilitas memadai.

Thousands of Madrassas are Ready to hold UNBK

Republika, page 12, Saturday 11 March

The government will again hold the National Examinations (UN) for students of MTs/SMP and MA/SMA.  Director of Curriculum, Facilities, Institutional and Student Affairs (KSKK) Directorate General of Islamic Education Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) M Nur Kholis Setiawan said more than 4,000 MTs and MA are ready to hold the Computer Based National Exams (UNBK).

Nur Kholis said that this year 4,425 MTs and MA are ready to implement UNBK, consisting of 2,063 MTs and 2,362 MA. Compared to the academic year 2015/2016, the number of MTs and MA conducting UNBK this school year increased sharply. The number of MTs and MA holding UNBK in the year 2015/2016 were only 98.

Expansion of UNBK implementation, according to Nur Kholis, is intended to improve the efficiency, quality, reliability, credibility, and integrity of the exam. Until now, Kemenag of regencies/cities and provinces continue to coordinate with the Education Agencies of the regencies/ cities and provinces in verifying the implementation of madrassa UNBK.

Earlier, Head of Sub-Directorate of Curriculum and Evaluation, Directorate of Madrassa Education Kemenag Shafi’i said that through the application of the principle of a variety of resources, Kemenag expects the participation of madrassa students in UNBK to increase.  He explained madrassas could implement UNBK independently when they already have adequate facilities.   If not, the students of the relevant madrassa could join a madrassa or school nearby that already has adequate facilities.

Guru yang Kritis Terancam Mendapat Sanksi

Kompas, halaman 12, Sabtu, 11 Maret

Perlindungan terhadap guru di Indonesia dinilai masih lemah. Guru berada dalam posisi yang terancam, terutama jika bersikap kritis. Ancaman mutasi dan pemutusan hubungan kerja sepihak membayangi guru yang mengkritisi kebijakan pimpinan di sekolah, yayasan, ataupun pemerintah daerah. Sekjen Federasi Serikat Guru Indonesia (FSGI) Retno Listyarti mengatakan, banyak guru PNS yang kritis terhadap pemerintah daerah atau guru swasta yang kritis terhadap yayasan mendapat perlakukan tidak baik, bahkan merugikan karir guru. Guru PNS yang kritis terancam dimutasi atau diturunkan pangkatnya. Adapun guru swasta terancam PHK secara sepihak.

Menurut Retno, FSGI sedang mendampingi 116 guru madrasah di Kabupaten Indramayu, Jawa Barat, sejak Januari lalu. Para guru tetap yayasan yang telah memiliki nomor unik pendidik tenaga kependidikan dan mendapat tunjangan profesi guru ini dipecat tanpa prosedur yang sesuai aturan hukum.

Mustakim, salah satu guru yang menjadi korban pemecatan mengatakan, para guru tidak mendapatkan peringatan soal PHK. Sebelum di-PHK mereka menolak menyatakan persetujuan pembuatan laporan pertanggungjawaban dana bantuan operasional sekolah (BOS) yang diterima sekolah. Sebab, dari bukti yang didapat pihak sekolah, ada dugaan penyelewengan dana BOS yang mencapai miliaran rupiah untuk kepentingan pribadu pihak yayasan.

Sementara itu, Ketua Umum Pengurus Besar Persatuan Guru Republik Indonesia (PGRI) Unifah Rosyidi mengatakan, PGRI serius memperjuangkan perlindungan hukum bagi guru. Organisasi itu menyediakan bantuan hukum dengan membentuk Lembaga Konsultasi dan Bantua Hukum (LKBH) PGRI. Selain itu, ada Dewan Kehormatan Guru dan Kode Etik.

Critical Teachers Threatened to be Imposed Sanctions

Kompas, page 12, Saturday, 11 March

Protection towards teachers in Indonesia is still weak. Teachers are in a position that is threatened, especially if they are critical. Threats of transfers and unilateral job termination shadow teachers who criticize policies of school leaders, foundations, or regional administrations. Secretary General of the Federation of Indonesia Teachers Union (FSGI) Retno Listyarti said there were many civil servant (PNS) teachers who were critical of the regional administrations or private teachers who were critical of the foundation who got ill treatment, even detrimental to the teachers’ careers.  PNS teachers who are critical are threatened to be transferred or demoted. Whereas private teachers are threatened by unilateral layoffs.

According to Retno, FSGI is assisting 116 madrassa teachers in Indramayu, West Java, since last January. The permanent teachers of the foundation who already have educator of education personnel unique numbers and obtain teacher professional allowances were fired without procedures according to the rules of the law.

Mustakim, one of the teachers who were victims of the dismissal said the teachers did not get any warning about the layoffs. Before being laid off they refused to express approval of the reporting of accountability of school operational fund assistance (BOS) received by schools. Because, from the evidence available from the school, there are allegations of misappropriation of the BOS funds that reached billions of rupiah for the personal benefit of the foundation.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Board of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) Unifah Rosyidi said, PGRI seriously fought for legal protection for teachers. The organization provides legal assistance by setting up a PGRI Legal Aid and Consultancy Organization (LKBH). In addition, there is the Honorary Council of Teachers and Code of Conduct.

Jurnal Ilmiah Bisa Petakan Perguruan Tinggi

Kompas, halaman 12, Sabtu, 11 Maret

Pemetaan perguruan tinggi bisa dilakukan dengan melihat potensi yang sudah dimiliki tiap-tiap institusi. Perguruan tinggi yang memiliki banyak makalah ilmiah di jurnal internasional dan nasional terakreditasi dapat dikategorikan memiliki kekuatan dalam riset. Hal itu dikemukakan pengamat pendidikan tinggi Djoko Santoso terkait pemetaan potensi perguruan tinggi (PT) berdasarkan keunggulan masing-masing.

Sebelumnya mencuat eacana agar tidak semua PT harus diarahkan menjadi PT berbasis riset jika sumber dayanya memang tidak mendukung. Pemerintah didorong memetakan perguruan tinggi agar dapat terpilah dalam tiga kelompok, yakni pengajaran, riset, atau kewirausahaan.

Menurut Djoko, pemerintah bisa menempuh beberapa skema. Misalnya, jika mengacu pada data Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan, dan jumlah lulusan suatu perguruan tinggi cepat terserap di bursa kerja, itu tandanya perguruan tinggi itu unggul dalam vokasi. Skema lain, ialah pemerintah menunjuk PT tertentu untuk mengampu satu bidang, misalnya Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Surabaya, sebagai salah satu poros pendidikan dan penelitian kelautan.

Sementara itu, Direktur Riset dan Pengabdian Masyarakat Kemristek Dikti Ocky Karna Rajasa mengatakan, perguruan tinggi bisa membentuk konsorsium untuk melakukan penelitian. Hal ini memungkinkan para pengajar di perguruan tinggi untuk melakukan penelitian dan pengembangan meskipun sarana dan prasarana di lembaga tersebut belum sepenuhnya memadai. Menurut dia, pendanaan riset bisa dilakukan melalui konsorsium pula.

Scientific Journals Could Map Higher Education

Kompas, page 12, Saturday 11 March

Mapping of higher education could be done by looking at the potentials of each of the institutions. Universities that have many scientific papers in international and accredited national journals could be categorized as having strengths in research. It was stated by higher education observer Djoko Santoso pertaining to mapping of higher education (PT) potential based on the respective superiorities.

Earlier there was a discourse that not all universities should be directed to become research-based PT if their resources are not supportive. The government is encouraged to map higher education to be divided into three groups, namely teaching, research or entrepreneurship.

According to Djoko, the government can take some of the schemes. For example, if referring to data of the Ministry of Manpower, and the number of graduates of the university are quickly absorbed in the labor market, it is a sign that the higher education excels in vocational education.   Another scheme is the government appoints a certain PT to teach/ support one field, for example, Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Surabaya, as one axis of marine education and research.

Meanwhile, Director of Research and Community Service Kemristek Dikti Ocky Karna Rajasa said higher education institutions could form a consortium to conduct research. It allows teachers in universities to conduct research and development despite the facilities and infrastructure in these institutions are not entirely adequate. According to him, research funding could also be conducted through the consortium.