SBA helps realise students’ potential in holistic manner

PUTRAJAYA: The School-based Assessment ( SBA) in lower secondary education is designed to help students realise their academic and co- curricular potential in a holistic manner.

The Malaysian Examination Board's ( MEB) Development and Policy Management Sector head, Dr Rahimah Adam said this was because ' the SBA is a holistic evaluation of the intellectual, emotional, spiritual and physical aspects in line with the National Education Philosophy'.

She said the SBA component comprised the School Assessment, Centralised Assessment, Physical Activity, Sports, and Cocurricular Assessment ( PAJSK) and Psychometric Assessment (PPsi).

“School Assessment involves academic evaluation by teachers during the learning process in the classroom continuously from Form 1 to 3, in which teachers have to send the performance report to the MEB every year.

“Centralised Assessment comprises the Form 3 Assessment ( PT3) examination for which instruments and scoring guide as well as quality assurance are

School Assessment involves academic evaluation by teachers during the learning process in the classroom continuously from Form 1 to 3, in which teachers have to send the performance report to the MEB every year�� Dr Rahimah Adam, Malaysian Examination Board’s (MEB) Development and Policy Management Sector head

provided completely by the MEB,” she told Bernama in an exclusive interview at the Education Ministry, here.

“The involvement of students in associations and sports is evaluated in the PAJSK, namely identifying their leadership and communication skills within the organisation.

“PPsi will be handled by counselling teachers who set a special test for students aimed at identifying talents and their inclination towards their special interests.

“It is also an important element for schools in helping students determine their choice of the Science or Arts stream when stepping into Form 4,” she said.

Rahimah said PT3 was just one of the elements in SBA and not to replace the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR).

“At the end of Form 3, students will receive a School Assessment report, Psychometric Assessment report, PAJSK report and PT3 report,” she said.

Rahimah noted that most parents were too obsessed with the examination results of their children to the extent of failing to detect their real potential and talent.

“Compared with the PMR examination- oriented system, SBA is more focused on helping parents and teachers to identify whether the pupil has academic or co- curricular leanings,” she said.

Rahimah said PT3 also inculcated higher order thinking skills with tasks given to assess cognitive skills such as analysing, evaluating, creating and applying knowledge to everyday situations. — Bernama