KUALA LUMPUR: Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has clarified that the School-Based Assessment (SBA) system provides a more holistic and integrated approach to evaluating students' development compared to traditional examination-based methods.
In a statement, she said that SBA went beyond intellectual evaluation, incorporating co-curricular, emotional, spiritual, and social dimensions.
She acknowledged that while there was room for improvement, the ministry was focused on strengthening SBA to ensure its comprehensive and transparent implementation for the benefit of all students.
Addressing the abolishment of the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3) examinations, Fadhlina said that the decision was made by the previous government, but she is fully responsible for reviewing education policies moving forward.
"Education is dynamic and evolves in line with current and future needs. While examinations were once the sole mechanism for assessing student achievements, today, we have shifted to a more holistic approach that includes both formative and summative assessments," she said.
She said that continuous assessment through SBA did not mean that cognitive measurements had been abandoned.
"In fact, SBA includes components such as the Ujian Akhir Sesi Akademik (UASA), which aims to measure the cognitive abilities of upper primary school students (Years 4, 5, and 6) and lower secondary students (Forms 1, 2, and 3).
"The SBA system allows for a more integrated evaluation of students' development, in line with the National Education Philosophy (FPK). It focuses not only on intellectual aspects but also on co-curricular, emotional, spiritual, and social development," she added.
Fadhlina also welcomes feedback on SBA, acknowledging its importance in creating an open discourse for the Malaysia Madani vision.
She also said that the ministry was addressing concerns regarding the validity and transparency of assessments to ensure fair evaluations and restore public confidence in the system.
In response to parents' concerns, Fadhlina said the ministry had introduced grades and percentages in assessments to help gauge students' understanding more clearly.
"Starting this academic year, UASA performance reports will be presented in grades and percentages, making it easier for parents to assess their children's progress. Additionally, UASA results will now be accessible online for parents to track directly," she said.
Fadhlina said that efforts to enhance SBA were part of the broader Education Reform initiative, which includes curriculum intervention focused on improving the overall assessment system.