‘School assessments better than exams’

Lately, there have been repeated calls by parents and educators to reinstate the centralised UPSR (Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah) and the PT3 (Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga), which had been replaced by school-based assessments.

These stakeholders have questioned the validity and reliability of the current school-based examinations. As an educator for 38 years, let me share my two cents’ worth on the matter. The UPSR, which was scrapped in 2021, should remain buried while the PT3, which was abolished last year, should be revived but with 60% centralised examinations and 40% school-based assessments.