Malaysia achieved the best performance in the Writing domain of the South-East Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) 2024.
The Education Ministry said Malaysian pupils achieved an average of 480.1 points in Writing – 29.2 points higher than the regional average –making Malaysia the highest among all participating South-East Asian countries.
The results also showed that 21% of Malaysian pupils reached the top achievement band (Band 5 and above), compared to the regional average of 5%.
“This achievement shows pupils’ level of critical thinking, which includes content, context and the process of presenting ideas in writing,” the ministry said in a March 26 statement.
However, the ministry acknowledged that achievement gaps persist across socio-economic groups, gender, and differences in languages spoken at home and at school, posing a significant challenge to achieving more equitable education.
The SEA-PLM assesses Year Five pupils in four domains: Reading Literacy, Mathematics, Writing and Global Citizenship.
In Malaysia, the 2024 assessment involved 4,379 pupils from 158 primary schools, including national schools (SK), national-type Chinese schools (SJKC), national-type Tamil schools (SJKT), Orang Asli schools, government-aided religious schools, and private schools.
Results for the Reading Literacy and Mathematics domains were released earlier, in December last year.
“The Education Ministry is constantly striving to improve the quality of national education to meet international assessment standards for the benefit of Malaysian children,” the statement read. — By JAAYNE JEEVITA
More than words
Writing is a form of expression and, at times, escapism for me. It teaches me to convey my thoughts, feelings and experiences to others, while also understanding theirs in return. Journalling and reading are the two main methods I use to improve my writing. It can be tempting to become overly reliant on AI to deliver polished results instantly, but our own writing carries a unique warmth and authenticity that machines can never truly replicate. Because of that, I try to keep my use of AI minimal, if not entirely absent, in my personal work. At the end of the day, creativity is something inherently human. While AI can enhance the way we write, it should and can never replace our role in thinking and creating.
Thang Xin Ying, 18
Writing is proof that I exist beyond a body. It translates thoughts into form, and feelings into something tangible. It is evidence that I am here, questioning, creating, and not just going through the motions. Writing has sharpened my thinking, strengthened my arguments in exams, and helped me discover my own voice. It is the closest thing I have to understanding myself. I improve through deliberate practice, reading widely, rewriting until words feel true, and pushing myself to notice patterns in my thinking that I otherwise would not see. Though AI tools have occasionally proven helpful, they cannot replicate the process of working through confusion, shaping thought or producing anything inherently profound. To write is to stake a claim to your own voice, and nobody should be robbed of that.
Janani Jsudass, 16
When I write, my personality and character are presented to readers through words. Apart from writing, I have always loved to read. My understanding of writing comes solely from the books I have consumed; without reading, I would not have any words to write. As I read, I make a point of noting language usage or the way the author writes to make the words flow concisely. This technique has greatly improved my writing ability – a skill that is applicable everywhere. I would have suffered in my schoolwork if I had not cultivated my writing skills. These days, AI makes everything convenient, but in work that I take pride in, the only thing AI tools can do is save time. AI strips away all traces of me in my writing. There is no person, no feeling and no authenticity. As much as I can, I will not let AI take away my voice.
Bertilda Wong, 17
