‘PT3 not framed to prioritise only academic performance’
KUCHING: Society must change their conservative view about the Form 3 Assessment ( PT3) because it is not framed to prioritise academic performance only.
Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said it was unfair to look at PT3 based solely on academic results when the structure of assessment had changed, similar to what had been done for UPSR.
“This has been our mistake all this while, stressing too much on academic achievement. Now, we want to do away with such perception on our education system,” she said when asked to comment about the PT3 results, which were released nationwide on Monday.
“Education is about supporting children to develop in all aspects of their lives and our new education philosophy is focused on helping students excel in both cognitive and non- cognitive dimensions as needed for the children’s full development,” she added.
Fatimah said this after handing over keys to a KitKotak housing unit to a poor family at Kampung Buntal here yesterday.
“Every time the public examination results are out, our attention is put into how the children do academically. While it is important to do well cognitively, let’s not overlook the importance of non- cognitive skills implemented in the current education system,” the minister stressed.
The new education structure focuses on centralised examinations, school- based assessment, psychometric assessment and non- cognitive skills including community projects, sports and other cocurricular activities.
Fatimah said the PT3 assessment format was different from the old version, which emphasised solely on academic learning.
“Now, children are expected to
This has been our mistake all this while, stressing too much on academic achievement. Now, we want to do away with such perception on our education system. Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing
demonstrate critical thinking, problem solving and social skills. These non- cognitive skills are assessed for the whole schooling year.
“We must realise that each student performs differently because not everyone is at the same level playing field. It is the same with our children – each one of them is different with their own potential. Our education focuses on nurturing them wholly so that they can be successful in life.”
Fatimah said there were people who excelled in life even though they did not achieve excellent academic results.
“We want parents to understand that PT3 is assessing the overall development of children – both cognitive and non- cognitive skills. It is a (well) rounded education to foster their development for a better education outcome.”
Reiterating that PT3 was definitely better, Fatimah hoped that the public especially the parents could relook at the real purpose of education and examination.
“Our education philosophy stresses on wholesome development of our children in a holistic manner – one that covers all aspects including intellect, emotion, behaviour, morals and ethics.”
Fatimah thus hoped that the public – the parents, in particular – could appreciate the improvement on curriculum and assessment that was intended at producing better educated people.