By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, April 29 — It is high time for a new education system to be introduced to replace the assessment method in evaluating students’ performance solely through examinations.
Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the national education system has faced a chaotic situation in the last two years following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I have heard of this non-examination based assessment but that is all just talk, (instead) we are still depending a lot on examinations.
“This is the best time for us to think together on how far does the education based on examinations would guarantee the future of the students,” he said when met after the signing ceremony of the collaboration in conjunction with the Selangor Foundation’s 50th anniversary held at the official residence of the Dato’ Menteri Besar, here yesterday.
Amirudin had acknowledged such mechanisms presents a major challenge for the government to empower the education system in the new norms.
“This is why we have prepared (learning) materials in various forms so that the students would not be left behind,” he said.
Yesterday, the government had announced to fully abolish the Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) from this year and cancel the Form Three Assessment Examination (PT3) for this year.
Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said with the abolition of UPSR, the assessment method for Year Six students will be focused on strengthening School-Based Assessment (PBS) starting this year, and for admission to boarding schools for 2022 will be based on Specific Schools Admission Assessment (PKSK).
He said that the decision to abolish the UPSR was made after obtaining views and input through various processes involving more than 1,700 participants, comprising teachers, parents and students as well as unions and associations nationwide, in various sessions held.
