A MORE COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION
Last year’s UPSR candidates evaluated based on the new system, says deputy minister
THE new approach in evaluating Year Six pupils starting this year will factor in the service to their schools, society and even country. Students will also be assessed based on the National Physical Fitness standard and their participation in co-curricular activities, including in
uniformed bodies, clubs and societies, as well as sports and games.
THE complete assessment for Year Six pupils, which will include the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and three other non-academic components, was first introduced last year.
Deputy Education Minister II Datuk Chong Sin Woon said the assessment, called the Primary School Assessment Report (PSAR) or Pelaporan Pentaksiran Sekolah Rendah, was nothing new as the previous batch of UPSR students were the first group to be evaluated based on the assessment.
“Last year, UPSR results were presented in two slips, with the first slip containing the academic result, while the second slip showed the result of the assessment.
“It seemed that majority of the parents were more focused on the number of As rather than the overall assessment, which is equally important.
“While the assessment is not new, the way the result will be presented tomorrow will be different as the academic result and the non-academic components will be encompassed on a single slip,” he said.
Chong was commenting on the dissatisfaction raised by parents, who had questioned why the decision on the new PSAR was not announced earlier.
Education director-general Datuk Dr Amin Senin yesterday revealed the major shift, which would see Year Six pupils receiving four reports in their UPSR results, to be announced tomorrow.
The result will not only focus on the academic component. Sports, physical and co-curriculum activities assessment, classroom assessment and psychometric assessment will also be taken into account for their selection into fully residential schools.
“We want to get away from the examination-oriented education system.
“We understand that it will take some time for the parents, students and schools to familiarise themselves with the new system, but it has to start somewhere.
“Countries like Japan and Taiwan, too, faced the same issues when they tried to make changes from the examinationbased education system to comprehensive assessments,” said Chong after launching the Excellent Awards ceremony at SK Taman Semarak here yesterday.
“The acceptance will take a long time because we have been accustomed to the old system for so long.
“Such changes will take between five and seven years before we can see the results.
“We need to create the awareness that it’s no longer about how many As the students can score as we also need to emphasise their achievements in other areas.”
Chong said the changes would relinquish schools and teachers from the stress to ensure that schools achieve specific examination results, as previously, 70 per cent of school grades were based on examination results.
“Teachers can focus more on students’ achievements. It will provide the opportunity for parents to recognise their children’s potential with the comprehensive assessment.”
On the suggestion made by Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, who had advised all parties to refrain from celebrating outstanding students in special events, Chong said the advice should be viewed in the right context.
“It’s not wrong to celebrate excellent students because it can boost their spirits, but with the latest trend, which saw these events being held at hotels, I think it will only put pressure on teachers to organise the event, and parents, too, have to bear the cost of between RM100 and RM150 each,” he said.