NIBONG TEBAL: Any decision to revive Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Form Three Assessment Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) will only be made after the tabling of the report on the implementation of the Education Development Plan 2013-2025.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the outcome of the report on the Malaysia's development plan will serve as a reference for the ministry to decide whether to re-introduce both examinations in the education system or otherwise.
Fadhlina, however, stressed that the ministry is currently focusing on efforts to strengthen school-based assessment (PBS) instead of examination-oriented mode to improve and develop skills and knowledge among students in the country.
"If we look at the implementation of PBS, the system allows our children to progress in a holistic manner and not focus on a single aspect.
"And the ministry's stance at the moment is to strengthen the existing PBS system through the introduction of final academic (centralised) examination (system). This is unlike UPSR or PT3 which are more examination oriented.
"Let us wait until the tabling of the report on the Education Development Plan, which will end in 2025, before looking into the proposal to bring back the two examinations (UPSR and PT3)," she told reporters after meeting the people at her service centre here today.
Fadhlina was asked to comment on the proposal voiced out among some parents who called on the ministry to consider bringing back both examinations following concerns that the children facing the risk of becoming "lost generation" due to the disruption brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among them included one Dr Ramlee Mustapha of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), who in his letter to editors published in the New Straits Times, said the importance of public assessment is undeniable due to its impact on students' future.
She added that any decision whether to bring back both examinations or otherwise would also take into consideration the views and feedbacks from stakeholders in the public education system especially teachers and parents.
"Any decision to reintroduce the examinations must be made on facts and data.
"The ministry, nevertheless, understands and took note of the concerns among parents on knowledge development among their children following the abolition of these examinations.
"However, we went through an extremely long process and deliberation before a decision was made to abolish the two examinations," she said.
The then senior education minister Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin had said UPSR and PT3 were abolished to ensure that teachers could implement teaching and learning (PdP) in a more creative and innovative way creating a more enjoyable learning environment.
Both examinations including UPSR were cancelled in 2021. Following the abolition of UPSR, the ministry would focused on PBS in order assess Year Six students.
