The issue of the reinstatement of the UPSR (Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah) and PT3 (Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3) exams is in the news again. After the abolition of these two exams in 2021 and 2022, respectively, the question of whether to bring back exam-based assessments is still being hotly debated.Having been in the school administration division for a number of years, I can vouch for the effectiveness of exams in improving the quality of education.
Our exam-based system has produced great statesmen, lawyers, doctors and engineers. We don’t need to waste billions of ringgit to replicate whatever school-based syllabus some faraway land is using and force it on our teachers and children.
