Parents urged to ease pressure on kids for straight As

KOTA KINABALU: Parents with children sitting for the UPSR exam are advised against applying undue pressure on them.

Sabah Education Department director Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul said getting excellent academic results or straight As should not “top the list” as there are many other aspects to a pupil’s capability.

“It is important that the passing rate improves statewide but we should not focus on just straight As,” she said.

Maimunah said there were reports of pupils committing suicide because they could not meet the expectations set by their families.

“Such pressure should not be put on pupils as they still have a long way to go in their studies,” she said during a visit to the SJK(C) Shan Tao here yesterday.

Maimunah advised the 43,565 UPSR candidates in the state who began sitting for the UPSR yesterday to read and understand the exam questions properly, to keep calm and prepare themselves well.

“We have exam marshals in hos pitals too, so those who are sick and unable to go to school, must seek treatment at hospitals so that you can take your exam there,” she said, adding that so far six pupils were scheduled to sit for the exam in hospital this year.

The UPSR exam will continue with the Bahasa Malaysia, English, Maths and Science subjects from Monday to Thursday next week.