*KUALA LUMPUR:* Educators and parent groups are urging caution regarding the potential reintroduction of major examinations like UPSR and PT3, emphasizing that any assessments must prioritize substance and quality.
They expressed concerns about "quick fix" solutions that could place undue emphasis on exams at the expense of a well-rounded education. Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, chair of the Parent Action Group for Education, warned that reinstating these exams might shift focus to mere syllabus completion and foster a culture fixated on grades, sidelining students with diverse talents who may not excel in traditional academic measures. This approach, she noted, could contradict efforts to promote technical and vocational education and training.
Noor Azimah maintained that current school-based assessments are sufficient but called for regular reviews of their effectiveness to maintain quality. She highlighted the introduction of the Academic Session Final Test (UASA) for students from Year Four to Year Six and Form One to Form Three, suggesting that it should only apply to Year Six and Form Three without the intensity associated with UPSR and PT3.
She cautioned against the government making hasty decisions regarding education reforms without meaningful engagement with stakeholders, drawing parallels to previous contentious changes, such as mandatory passing of the history subject in the SPM exam and the abolishment of the Dual Language Programme in most MRSM schools.
Educationist Datuk Dr. Chiam Heng Keng emphasized the need for quality assessments to accurately reflect students' knowledge and competencies. She warned that a simplistic approach to reinstating exams could be detrimental, advocating for thorough research and analysis of international systems to inform any reforms.
Dr. Chiam also stressed that reforms should be rooted in a comprehensive evaluation of Malaysia's education system. Earlier, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek indicated that the Cabinet might review the national education policy concerning the scrapped PT3 and UPSR exams, following Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's remarks on their role as benchmarks before SPM. The minister also mentioned intervention programs for 122,000 Year 1 students who have not yet mastered foundational skills in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
