Standardised exams essential in assessing progress

I AM writing to express concern over the abolition of the Primary School Assessment Test (UPSR) and PT3 (Form 3 exam). While I understand the intention behind the decision to abolish them, which was to reduce exam stress and promote a more holistic approach to learning, the long-term consequence appears to be a decline in students’ academic progress, particularly in mathematics and science.

Without standardised benchmark assessments, many students lag behind their peers while teachers lack a reliable tool to identify and address learning gaps early. This can lead to the widening of achievement disparities among students from different backgrounds, delay in screening for early intervention and targeted support, and reduced motivation for struggling learners as there is less accountability and feedback on the core competencies.