No decision yet on UPSR

‘Exam format will remain until the time is right to change’

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid says the exam will remain until the time is right for change.

KOTA KINABALU: The UPSR for Year Six pupils will continue until a study on the examination is completed, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said.

He said the exam format will remain until the time is right to change it.

“There are still a lot of factors to be considered and plans to be worked out.

“All these will take a long time before we decide to abolish or replace the UPSR,” he said while visiting pupils sitting for the examination at SK Sri Gaya near here yesterday.

The minister gave a brief motivational talk to the pupils before they sat for the UPSR.

Mahdzir was commenting on a statement he made in November last year that a study was being done on whether to continue with the examination.

He had said that the ministry would announce its decision this year after viewing the findings.

Mahdzir said the UPSR this year would take into consideration school-based assessments, including sports and other non-academic evaluations.

“We want to have a holistic take on this because the pupils’ performances should not be based only on academic results,” he said. He urged all the candidates to do their best. A total of 443,794 pupils nationwide are sitting for the UPSR.

He hoped that there would be no untoward incidents, such as floods or accidents involving pupils, teachers or parents, throughout the exam period.

The UPSR ends on Thursday for most pupils while those taking Chinese and Tamil papers will conclude the exam on Sept 18.

We want to have a holistic take on this because the pupils’ performances should not be based only on academic results.

Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid