President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has decided that the national examination (UN) will continue, rejecting the Culture and Education Ministry’s proposal to scrap the standardized evaluation tool that is used in primary and secondary education.

The decision, made on Monday evening after a limited Cabinet meeting concerning the exam, came about following consideration of the latest survey by the Programme for International Student Assesment (PISA), which ranked Indonesia 62nd from 72 countries assessed, indicating a slight improvement for its 2013 rank of 71.

The survey also stated that in 2030, Indonesia would be among countries with the best education.

Cabinet secretary Pramono Anung said in a statement that the country was on the right educational track after promising indications collected in the survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

“President wants the national exam to be a real ‘benchmark’ for students in the future. If the exam is scrapped, disparities will arise between schools,” he said.

Despite the low ranking, the OECD based on its survey findings praised Indonesia’s improvement, “During the period of 2012-2015, the science results for 15 year olds rose by 21 points. This has made Indonesia one of the countries with the fastest development."

Cultural and Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy previously said the plan to suspend the exam was aimed at implementing what was stipulated in Jokowi’s Nawacita—nine-point agenda—that stated exams would not be used as a gauge for “measuring the national education system”. (adt/dmr)