UPSR , PMR exams may be abolished: Muhyiddin (Update)

MUAR: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examinations may be abolished.

He said this was part of government efforts to restructure the learning system that as seen as too examination oriented and failed to provide a holistic education.

"We are mulling whether to retain the examinations or abolish them leaving only the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM)," he said after opening the Pagoh Umno division delegates meeting here Friday.

Muhyiddin who is also Education Minister said UPSR and PMR might be retained but only as school-based assessments and not as public examinations.

However, the ministry would not act in haste and wanted the public to give feedback to help improve the public examination system.

He felt that only one public examination was needed as only the SPM was needed when seeking employment.

As such, the UPSR and PMR could be used to pick students for residential schools or streaming.

"With only one public examination, the teachers and students can focus on improving creativity, interactive and co-curricular activities and sports,” he said.

The proposal to scrap UPSR and PMR examinations in the future appears to have supporters.

Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) president Jais Abdul Karim said the move would strengthen the education system and produce students who are more focused.

"Our system is too exam-oriented which stresses out the students and they study blindly to pass exams, without understanding its relevance for use in the future," he told Bernama here Sunday.

Jais said should they follow through with the proposal, the government would need to formulate a new method or mechanism to measure the achievement of student.

"A lot of goodwill comes from this move and teachers will also have more time to teach students effectively," he said.

Meanwhile, National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) president, Hashim Adnan said UPSR was still relevant and should be maintained, since it helped motivate primary school students to study hard.

However, he agreed with the abolishment of PMR as the exam's sole purpose was to determine which stream students would go to in Form Four.

"The UPSR is relevant as it ranks students and encourages them to do their best so they are more prepared to face secondary school," he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Education Service Ex-Officers Association (PBPPPM) liaison officer Abdul Karim Abdullah said the move was appropriate to ensure teachers and students have more time to focus on co-curriculum and sports activities.

"Previously, co-curricular activities and sports took a lot of time and distracted students from focusing on their studies, so this way the students will have more time for both their studies and their extra activities," he added. - Bernama