‘Psychometric test marked by computers, no bias’

KUCHING: There is no discrimination in the marking of the interim teachers’ psychometric test to gauge their personality traits.

This is because the test – designed to determine the mental traits of examinees – is properly designed by foreign psychologists who are expert in the scientific study of human behaviour and is marked by computers.

According to Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, the questions in the test can be very ‘ weird and funny’ because they are only designed to extract mental traits.

There is also no passing or failing mark in the test because it is just used to determine the suitability of the interim teachers to become permanent teachers, he explained.

The teachers’ job is not only teaching but also dealing with children with different levels of IQ and that they need to have a high degree of patience, he pointed out.

Those interim teachers who took the test were “qualified teachers” as they hold a first degree complete

But all answers are in objective format and the test is not corrected by humans but by computers, therefore there is no element of discrimination.

Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research

with Diploma of Education or first degree with the incorporation of an education element.

However, they still need to “get through” the psychometric test to show that they are suitable to become permanent teachers, Manyin told a press conference at his ministerial office in Masja in Petra Jaya here yesterday.

He said the interim teachers should have no problem in understanding the test questions written in Bahasa Malaysia because in the first place, the minimum requirement to become a teacher is a Credit in Bahasa Malaysia and moreover they have learned and used the language in schools and tertiary institutions.

“I was asked if there should be an independent body to mark the test paper. But all answers are in objective format and the test is not corrected by humans but by computers. Therefore there is no element of discrimination,” he stressed.

As the test is to extract the true mental traits of a person, the person must answer the questions honestly so that his true personality trait will come out.

“If the person answered dishonestly, then what comes out will not be his true personality,” he said.

In a related development, Manyin said the federal Education Ministry has granted an extension of service to 75 interim teachers who did meet the requirements of the psychometric test for the second time.

However they will have to get through it for the third or final time to enable them to become permanent teachers, he added.

Last year, 361 interim teachers took the first psychometric test with some getting through the first test and some getting through at the second try.

Following calls to get them into the teaching profession permanently, Manyin appealed for the 75 and extension of their service until December 2017 was granted by the federal Education Ministry but is subject to the outcome of the test in August.