Several non-governmental organisations and political parties are preparing their respective recommendations ahead of the roundtable discussion on the proposal to abolish the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examinations, on July 19 and 27.

Parent Action Group for Education (Page) president Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the government should look into reviewing the way UPSR and PMR questions were set.

She said that at the moment the two examinations gave too much emphasis on the need to memorise facts rather than on problem solving.

"This should change. For instance, we can give data to students and they can use these data to solve problems," she said when contacted.

West Malaysia Malay Teachers Union president Mohamed Sobri Mohd Arsad hoped that the discussion would focus on the interest of students.

"There should be a balance between spiritual and physical development among students. We should not push students too hard towards academic performance to the extend of neglecting other aspects of their development," he said.

MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong, who is the party's education bureau chairman and deputy education minister, said the bureau was still collating feedback from the grassroots. 

Exams useful to gauge performance

Social activist Lee Lam Thye wants the two examinations to be retained.

"There should be a way to assess academic performance among students," he said.

 

MIC Youth chief T Mohan said if he was invited to the roundtable, he would convey the party's objection to the proposal.

"I will call for the two examinations to be retained because we are concerned over the absence of a transparent method to gauge the performance of students," he said.

Mohan said the MIC education bureau was preparing a proposal for the roundtable.

Malaysian National Muslim Students Association president Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz said he would suggest to the Education Ministry to prepare an alternative to replace the two examinations.

"We don't want the two examinations be abolished without providing any alternative," he said.

- Bernama