KOTA KINABALU: The proposal to introduce new formats for the lower secondary school assessment (PMR) and the primary school achievement test (UPSR) by 2016 has received mixed reactions from teachers and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) here.
Maktab Sabah PTA chairman Fatimah Shara Ahmad Noor said the government should study the proposal before implementing the new system.
She said the government should strengthen the existing educational system and not make changes.
“I believe if the PMR is changed from an examination set by the Education Ministry to a school-based assessment, more students would take it easy,” she said.
According to Fatimah, if the examination is a school-based assessment, the students would not take their studies seriously and would not put in efforts to get excellent results.
“The change to a school-based assessment would only make the students lag behind, especially the Bumiputeras.
“Without the school examination, the students would not know their academic standard and capability.
“We therefore need to strengthen the existing system to encourage students to study and get excellent results,” she said.
She was commenting on the proposal by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Sunday that the PMR for form three students would be a school-based assessment while the UPSR for standard six pupils would have a different format.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the PTAs of SMK Bandaraya and SK Lok Yuk, Inanam Nur Atikah Abdullah, said she welcomed the proposal to make changes in the education system which is too examination oriented.
“Nowadays, the PMR examination is not that important because whether the Form Three students passed or failed, they still could go to Form Four.
“Therefore, there is a need to make changes in the current education system to ensure our system is in line with current developments,” she said.
However, Nur Atikah said the proposal should be studied carefully to ensure all parties could benefit from the changes of the education system.
“Upgrading the education system is more needed to reduce an examination oriented system in the country,” she added.
In Lahad Datu, SMK Agaseh Parent-Teacher Association chairman Abdullah Abd Majid said the decision would benefit the people.’
“The decision to maintain and renew the UPSR format is very appropriate in view of the fact that UPSR is the only test that can determine a pupil’s level of intelligence.
“Abolishing the PMR and replacing it with a school-based assessment would reduce the pressure of the students.
“So, the government’s decision is very timely and beneficial to teachers and students,” he said.
“I highly support the government’s decision to maintain the UPSR because it is the only primary school test that must be taken after six years of schooling,” said Astrie, a mother of two children.
“The short period between the PMR and SPM can cause stress to the students.
“Moreover, it would also increase the burden on teachers to provide specialised training to students who are taking PMR,” she added.
Meanwhile, Angelica, a tutor at a private school in Lahad Datu said the wise step taken by government to provide a new UPSR format would contribute to an increase in students’ grade.
“This is because the students’ thinking level now is more advanced and creative than students in the past.
“Apart from that, to repeal the PMR will help the students to pay more attention to the more important examination, that is Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia,” she said.
Although the decision would only be implemented six years from now, many people already agreed to it and hopefully it would be for the best of interest of students’ future, she said.
In Tawau, 29-year-old undergraduate Amir Anuar agreed with the government on the new format for PMR and UPSR as it would give time for educators, teachers, parents and students to prepare themselves earlier before implementing the new evaluation system.
Amir said it could provide a basic preparation and plans for the schools, educators and students to get themselves into the new evaluation system in 2016 without facing it abruptly.
“For example, if the new evaluation system is to be done this year or next year, everyone will be in chaos and all things will be done in a hurry.
“Therefore, six years from now is appropriate for all the schools and educators to plan a suitable evaluation method to evaluate the capability and efficiency of a student as well as set up a vision to achieve the most excellent school status among the schools,” he said.
According to him, UPSR should be retained as a way of evaluating primary school pupils before graduating from primary level.
Meanwhile, Mary Wong also expressed that the new PMR, UPSR format from 2016 had taken too much time to carry out.
It should be carried out immediately to lessen the burden of parents having to send their children for tuition to prepare for PMR.
She said it would be good if PMR could be a school-based assessment to evaluate students and UPSR should be retained for the pupils before entering secondary school.
“I hope it is not the same old books but with new covers.
“We always change our education system, especially when a new education minister takes over.
“This I feel is not good for the education as a whole,” said Sri Tanjung assemblyman Jimmy Wong.
He said changes should only be made when there is a real need to change and not at the whims and fancies of leaders.
“It confused the parents, the students and even the teachers.
“I remember students were taught to be a good follower.
“They were told they were not creative enough and were left behind, but who are at fault here,” he said.
A father identified as Saharuddin Mohd said: “I hope it is not just another change of format that will be changed again after a few years.
“This shows that top decision makers are meddling with the education system without realising the consequences to our children,” he said.