PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY EFL TEACHERS IN ASSESSING STUDENTS' HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS: A CASE STUDY IN SMK PERTANIAN PEMBANGUNAN NEGERI SEMBAWA = MASALAH YANG DIHADAPI OLEH GURU BAHASA INGGRIS DALAM MENILAI KETERAMPILAN BERPIKIR TINGKAT TINGGI SISWA: STUDI KASUS DI SMK PERTANIAN PEMBANGUNAN NEGERI SEMBAWA

This study aims to reveal the problems encountered by EFL teachers in assessing students’ HOTS and how they solve its problems.
This research was descriptive qualitative research which involved EFL teachers in SMK Pertanian Pembangunan Negeri Sembawa, South Sumatera of Indonesia. Data collected through semi-structured interviewed. The research participants were two English teachers and the vice-principal of curriculum in SMK Pertanian Pembangunan Negeri Sembawa. Data were analyzed by the steps of qualitative analysis.
The result show that the participants have a positive perception of designing HOTS assignments. However, the participants also encounter problems in its implementation. They are divided into three categories, namely: problems with teachers’ knowledge, problems with teachers’ preparation, and problems with students’ limited ability.
The findings of this study indicate that the low level of HOTS for students is in line with the problems with the limited knowledge and training of HOTS for teachers. While teachers are essential to the implementation of the learning process, all educational institutions have equal responsibility for improving quality education. These findings also provide how these English teachers solve the problems that they face, starting with joining the HOTS training and subject teacher deliberation meeting to enhance their HOTS awareness and to have good preparation to incorporate HOTS into the teaching and learning process, as well as always encouraging students, despite their limited skills, to continue to be enthusiastic about learning English.
Keywords : EFL teachers, Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS), Assessment.