COMMENT | In a recent column, I argued that our annual fixation on SPM rankings tells us far less about the quality of our schools than we often assume.

High examination scores, especially in selective institutions, reflect less about schools’ impact than external factors such as student intake and demographics.

If we care about systemic improvement, we need to understand not just where students end up, but how much progress they make along the way.

It is against this backdrop that I welcome the Education Ministry’s announcement of the Malaysian Learning Matrix (Matriks Pembelajaran), a standardised national assessment to be taken by students in Standard Four and Form 3.

Much of the initial reaction has...