ALOR STAR: Former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid has called for the reinstatement of the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and the Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3), which were abolished two years ago.
These examinations, he said, had long been a cornerstone in shaping student success and played a pivotal role in Malaysia's education system.
"Therefore, I believe it is justified to bring back these examinations, as they have been fundamental to developing students in the way we envision for future generations," he said in a statement today.
Mahdzir was responding to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi' statement yesterday, who suggested an overhaul of the examination system for Year Six and Form Three students.
Mahdzir said abolition of UPSR and PT3 in 2022 by then education minister Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin was hasty and lacked thorough research.
Replacing these exams with the Classroom Assessment (PBD) and School-Based Assessment (PBS) systems, he said, has affected the accurate assessment of student achievement.
As such, Mahdzir said Zahid's suggestion should be considered, particularly as the impact of removing UPSR and PT3 is evident in the dropout issue of around 10,177 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates last year, who struggled with reading, writing, and arithmetic.
"I find that the PBD and PBS assessment methods do not truly reflect the student's actual abilities compared to the exam-based system.
"I also believe these assessment methods place extra burdens on class teachers," he said.
Mahdzir also said some parents have expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of PBD and PBS, which they feel has affected their children's chances of entering elite schools like Sekolah Berasrama Penuh (SBP) or Mara Junior College (MRSM).
"I also observe that the level of competition and determination among Year Six and Form Three students has decreased without significant examinations like UPSR and PT3, where students once strived with high motivation to succeed.
"Likewise, parents were more engaged in their children's learning, giving extra attention as they prepared for these important exams," he added.