SPECIAL EXAM TO ENROL IN SBPS
More than 50,000 Year Six pupils to sit for online exam as required by Education Ministry
VARIOUS aspects will be taken into consideration for enrolment into boarding schools (SBP), not just Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) results as in previous years.
In announcing Primary School Assessment Report results here yesterday, Education directorgeneral Datuk Dr Amin Senin said aspects like general knowledge, emotional intelligence, intellect, spirituality and social skills would determine a student’s placement in SBPs.
“SBP candidates are chosen based on their social and academic background, living location (whether in rural or urban areas) and leadership skills.
“The enrolment of students into SBPs is very different this time around. The SBP entrance exam will take many aspects into consideration,” he said.
The major changes in enrolment qualifications, he added, meant that students could apply to sit for the entrance exam.
He said if a UPSR candidate achieved only 2As and 3Bs but managed to fulfil the other requirements, the candidate might be accepted into an SBP.
The same applied if a candidate scored straight As in UPSR but if he was lacking in other aspects, then he would not be accepted into SBPs, he added.
The Primary School Assessment Report (PSAR) sees candidates being tested on a myriad of aspects.
This, the ministry had said, was to ensure students did not rely on academics alone, in the hope of creating holistic and well-rounded students in the future.
Assessments were made based on the UPSR for mainstream students, Primary School Alternative Assessment for special needs students, classroom assessment, physical, sports and co-curriculum assessment and psychometric assessment.
More than 50,000 Year Six pupils have applied to sit a special examination for enrolment in SBPs.
Meanwhile in Pendang, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the online examination, the first in the country, was a new requirement set by the ministry for SBP application beginning next year.
“Maktab Rendah Sains Mara has carried out such examinations for many years already.
“We are adopting the system for other SBPs since we only have 10,000 spots available at our SBPs,” he said after launching the “My New School” programme at SK Paya Rawa here yesterday.
He said pupils who scored straight As in UPSR would not automatically enrol in SBPs as the student selection would now involve sports, physical and cocurriculum activities assessment, classroom assessment and psychometric assessment.
Mahdzir said this year’s UPSR results was better than last year, with more than 8,000 straight As candidates.
“I am urging all schools to engage with parents on the PSAR, starting in Year Four, so that parents will understand what their children are expected to achieve when they are in Year Six.”
Mahdzir said SK Paya Rawa was one of the seven schools involved in the “My New School” programme this year.
He said the programme, under the National Blue Ocean Strategy, focused on engaging schools and the community on social and development activities held at the school.
“We have allocated RM3 million for the school, including to build a multipurpose hall that can be used to organise activities involving the local community.”