PT3 and UPSR cancelled, SPM postponed (updated)

PETALING JAYA: The Form Three assessment (PT3) and UPSR 2020 examinations have been cancelled in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination this year will also be postponed to the first quarter of 2021.

“The cancellation of the UPSR exams will not affect students’ assessment of their level of primary education as the assessments can be done in different ways, ” he said in a live address on RTM on Wednesday (April 15).

The UPSR results are commonly used as selection criteria for admission into boarding schools, religious secondary schools (Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama), Mara Junior Science Colleges and the Royal Military College.

The ministry will therefore, he said, introduce a new assessment method that is not just focused on academic performance.

“The PT3 exam cancellation too will not affect students’ level assessment at the lower secondary level and a new assessment method will also be introduced.

“The results obtained from this method will be one of the selection criteria for admission to schools like boarding schools and technical schools, ” he said.

These results, he said, will apply to all government schools, government-aided schools, private schools and any educational institutions registered with the ministry.

Schools that are not registered with the ministry are encouraged to use the results as well.

The second-semester examination of the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) will now be in August 2020, he said, while the third-semester examination will be in the first quarter of 2021.

He also said the Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM) and the Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) examinations will be postponed to the first quarter of 2021.

“We will ensure that under any circumstances, student access to teaching and learning will remain a priority, ” he added.

Noting that the delayed examinations will affect admission into higher education institutions, Radzi said the ministry and the Higher Education Ministry have agreed to postpone the admission dates for foundation, matriculation and diploma programmes to either July or August 2021, while degree programmes will be postponed to either September or October 2021.

On the reopening of schools, he said a decision will be made when the government is certain the situation is better.

“At this stage, reopening schools will only involve those sitting for public examinations, such as SPM, SVM, STPM, STAM and international equivalents.

“We will announce the dates of the reopening of schools at least two weeks in advance, ” he said.