NUTP renews calls to abolish UPSR

PETALING JAYA: The National Union of the Teaching Profession Peninsular Malaysia (NUTP) has renewed calls for the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) to be abolished, as part of an effort to move away from an exam-oriented education system.

Its secretary-general, Harry Tan (pic), said abolishing the primary school level assessment test could lighten the burden and stress on pupils.

"It may also help society to move away from the notion that a pupil's intelligence is measured by the number of As he or she scores," he said.

Tan added that NUTP was one of the early supporters for abolishing the UPSR, when former Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid proposed the move in 2016.

However, he said there had been no updates since then.

While calling for UPSR to be abolished, Tan said it does not mean that pupils would not be evaluated to be qualified to attend fully residential schools.

"Pupils may be evaluated using assessment tests at their respective schools, not a nationwide examination," he said.

Tan added that NUTP is prepared to work with the Education Ministry to abolish UPSR, while searching for better solutions to improve assessment tests in schools.

"By doing so, teachers will be better equipped to help pupils excel academically," he said.