Some students say Yay! while some parents say Nay!

IPOH: While many students have welcomed the decision to abolish the Form Three Assessment (PT3) beginning this year, there are also parents who feel exams are needed to keep track of the children’s progress.

With the pandemic forcing online studying and little chance of face-to-face tutoring, some students felt they were not prepared for the stress of exams.

Putri Melissa Saffiya Baharuddin, 14, said she agreed with the decision as many were left behind in their studies with the onset of online classes. She said it was not the same as attending school physically.

“We also only recently started to attend school, and I can imagine the anxiety for those who were supposed to sit for PT3.

“I really think assessment-based methods would be better,” she said.

Aryann Singh, 17, who missed PT3 due to the pandemic two years ago, felt differently. He said the exam is important to allow students to decide which path they want to choose in Form Four.

“The specific exams will actually allow us to think if we are more inclined towards the science or arts stream.

“Exams always make us feel that what we do is important, assessments can be taken lightly,” he added.

Parent Malar Angeline, 42, also felt PT3 should remain.

The kindergarten teacher, who is a mother of two, said exams allow children to focus on their studies.

“Students will be aware and not fool around,” said Malar, who has a 13-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter.

Home tutor Roop Kaur, 43, also disagreed with the abolition.

She said exams create a competitive environment and allow teachers to evaluate the progress of a student.

Absence of an exam, she said, would create unfair evaluation practices.

“Students must be able to manage the pressure to achieve a certain standard which can then be used as a benchmark in the real world.

“Many will be complacent without competition between schools. Also, PT3 is the gateway to the science and arts stream,” she added.

Roop said PT3 would also help students be more prepared when they sit for the SPM papers.

“I feel for the students now. No UPSR, no PT3, and they have to face SPM,” she added.

In Johor Baru, secondary school students expressed concerns over the move.

SMK Impian Emas student S. Kirrthana, 15, said that she is not too happy about the cancellation of the exam she had been preparing for.

“It has been a waste of time for students like me who have been studying hard since early this year.

“I would rather sit for PT3,” she said.

SMK Aminuddin Baki Form Two student Mohd Alqish Nazri Abdullah, 14, said he too would prefer to sit for the PT3 exam.

“It will allow me to plan my future well and help me decide which stream I want to go to, or if I want to go to a boarding school,” he added.

However, some parents agree with the ministry’s move.

Manager Azmi Iskandar Yusof, 43, said he believes this would help ease the pressure on students who needed good PT3 results to enter the stream of their choice.

“Having a school-based assessment will remove a lot of stress,” he said.

Housewife Nurul Hidayah Ahmad, 39, said the abolition would benefit many, including her daughter.

“Students should study in a relaxed environment, and not always be thinking about exams,” she said.