Deputy Education Minister Mohd Puad Zarkashi gave the assurance today that any abolition of the UPSR and PMR public examinations would not be done in haste.

The ministry would listen to the views of all quarters before making any decision, he said.

Puad said education was a dynamic system which had to undergo change in accordance with the times and it was for this reason that the proposal was made to abolish the UPSR and PMR.

Development of human capital demanded the need for change and improvement to adjust the education system with the times, he told reporters after opening a headmasters' education convention and delegates conference of the headmasters' council, here.

Puad said parents should not be overly concerned about the proposed abolition of the two examinations because teachers would not neglect their responsibility and there would be other tests for the pupils and students.

On another matter, he said the ministry was conducting a study to enable children to begin primary schooling at the age of five.

- Bernama