KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Learning Matrix (MPM) for Year Four pupils will assess students’ progress in literacy, numeracy and basic scientific skills, says Wong Kah Woh.
“The assessment will allow data to be used to design intervention programmes during Years 5 and 6, helping students prepare for the transition to secondary school as well as for international-level assessments,” the Deputy Education Minister said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Feb 24).
Wong said the MPM would begin for Year 4 this year and for next year for Form 3 students.
“This assessment aims to determine students’ actual mastery of core learning skills. The Learning Matrix is designed to help schools and teachers better understand students’ needs so that support can be provided earlier and more targeted,” he added.
The ministry is also focusing on strengthening the School-Based Assessment (PBS), which consists of four main components–namely, Classroom Assessment (PBD), Physical, Sports and Co-Curricular Assessment (PAJSK), Psychometric Assessment (PPsi), and Centralised Assessment.
Wong said PBD is a key assessment tool to obtain information on students’ development, progress, abilities, and level of mastery of the curriculum objectives.
“PBD plays a critical role in providing a clear picture of students’ mastery of the Learning Standards outlined in the curriculum. Through this process, teachers can systematically collect information, conduct analysis, and continuously reflect to monitor students’ progress,” he said.
He said the PBD has proven to be an effective mechanism to continuously track students’ development and achievement, and provide a strong foundation for academic excellence even without national examinations such as UPSR and PT3.
This, he said, was evident through the success of the SPM leavers who sat for the examination in 2022, 2023, and 2024. These were the cohorts who sat for the SPM examination after the PT3 was cancelled, he said.
“The National Average Grade (GPK) has shown consistent improvement, from 4.74 in 2022 to 4.60 in 2023, and further to 4.49 in 2024. Meanwhile, the percentage of candidates eligible for certification also increased from 91.6% (2022) to 93.5% (2023) and 94.0% (2024),” he added.
“To ensure a balance between academic achievement and character development, PAJSK and PPsi also play a key role in PBS. Through these mechanisms, students’ affective and psychomotor aspects are assessed via participation in sports, co-curricular activities, moral values, interests, and individual inclinations,” he said.
Data from the 2024/2025 school session show that student participation in co-curricular activities increased to 99.81%, compared with 84.45% in the 2023/2024 session,” he added.
He was responding to a question by Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PH-Bandar Tun Razak) on the effectiveness of PBS, which replaced the previous examination-oriented system.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said on Monday that the MPM for Year Four pupils is set to begin this October.
