IT was not just parents and their 12-year-old children who were devastated when the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) results were released, but their teachers too. School halls and courtyards were described as eerie morgues and zombie-like funeral homes as the results were announced last Thursday. It was as if a national disaster had struck the country and immediate help was not forthcoming. Parents, students and teachers felt cheated as result slips failed completely to reflect the immense effort put in the whole year and more.
Parents were frantic. Teachers were up in arms over the unexpected outcome. Students cried uncontrollably.