The Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched a comprehensive nationwide review this year to examine the possibility of reinstating two major public examinations, the Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) and the Form Three Assessment (PT3), before any decision is made by the Cabinet.
Education Minister, Fadhlina Sidek said the evaluation process would take time as it involves a thorough assessment of various factors, including the effectiveness of the current student assessment system and feedback from key stakeholders such as parents, teachers and school administrators.
She said the official mandate to carry out the study has been entrusted to the Education Advisory Council, while preliminary data and insights gathered by the ministry have already been compiled for consideration.
“We are now in the review phase, and the council has been formally tasked with examining the matter. Once the findings are ready, they will be submitted to the Cabinet as soon as possible for further deliberation,” she told reporters after officiating the opening of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Ladang Regent Elmina in Selangor yesterday.
Fadhlina stressed that the review is not limited to deciding whether UPSR and PT3 should be revived, but also involves a broader evaluation of the holistic assessment approach currently implemented under the School-Based Assessment (PBS) system.
Under PBS, student performance is measured through multiple dimensions, including academic achievement, skills development, and character building, rather than relying solely on high-stakes examinations.
“What we are doing now is listening to the voices of the community, including calls from some parents who believe UPSR and PT3 should return, while at the same time carefully assessing how effective the existing assessment framework has been,” she said.
She added that the ministry would provide a clearer explanation to the public once the study has been completed and presented to the Cabinet.
Earlier, the ministry announced that the issue of reintroducing UPSR and PT3 would be revisited following the reactivation of the National Education Advisory Council this year.
UPSR was abolished in 2021, while PT3 was discontinued in 2022, with both examinations replaced by the school-based assessment system aimed at promoting a more balanced and comprehensive development of students.
-EDUCATION TVET ASIA