Policy to let students choose their core subjects much welcomed — SIDS Samarahan chief
KUCHING: The new education policy of allowing students going to Form 4 next year to choose core subjects and electives is much welcomed by most parents.
The move will put less burden on teachers in the decision making, opined Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) Samarahan branch chairlady Emas Gijak when met at SMK Muara Tuang, Kota Samarahan yesterday.
Besides that, the policy will instil in students some form of empowerment, self esteem and self worthiness, she added.
With parents now getting more involved in decision making for their children, she said the move will indirectly bring about greater bonding between them.
“Basically, parents welcome the new education policy and if I am not wrong, advanced countries around the globe have been practising this policy all this while,” said Emas, who was accompanying her grandson to get his PT3 certificate at the school.
Form Three assessment (PT3) results were released yesterday, ending the anxiety of parents and students.
The PT3 results would be given together with the student’s school-based assessment, assessment of physical, sports and co-curricular activities, and psychometric assessment, Examinations Syndicate director of examinations Adzman Talib was quoted as saying earlier this month.
In 2014, PT3 replaced the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examination. PT3 is one of the four assessments under the overall school-based assessment system. Every year, about 450,000 candidates sit for PT3.
The Education Ministry is offering the following packages for Form 4 and 5 students to choose from starting next year:
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) A: Core subjects, three pure science subjects and Additional Mathematics. Students can add up to four other electives, including languages.
STEM B:
Core subjects, two pure science subjects, Additional Mathematics, at least one applied science or non-science elective.
STEM C: Core subjects, two applied science or technical elective or one vocational elective.
Humanities and Arts: Core subjects and electives from languages, Islamic Studies, arts and humanities and/or one STEM elective. (Vocational elective not included).
The Education Ministry said physical and health education would be compulsory for all students, but any testing would be done at school level only.
History and Bahasa Malaysia remain compulsory to pass subjects for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia ( SPM) examination for Form 5 students, which still has a 12 subject limit for each candidate.
The core subjects are Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mathematics, Science (except for students who take pure science subjects), History and Islamic Studies /Moral Studies (except for students who take Islamic studies-related electives).