The government should prioritise students' performance instead of the desires of wealthy parents, said Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

She said this in reference to Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's proposal to set up paid Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) in response to request by wealthy parents.

"The proposal is baseless as the primary reason given by the minister is that it was based on the requests of high-income parents," said Nurul.

She said the government's focus should be on helping students to cope with the new Higher Order Thinking Skills.

Nurul noted that the new approach had seen the UPSR results of students falling, with only 4,896 students, or 1.1 percent of students, succeeding in getting straight 'A's.

She added that some 9,519 students received all 'E's.

The PKR lawmakers said primary school students should not be burdened by their UPSR results when transitioning to secondary school.

Nurul urged Putrajaya to consider education models implemented in developed countries.

"There is no wrong in learning from the educational successes in Canada, German and Finland."

She also raised the example of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK), a decentralised education system managed by the respective cantons but coordinated at the national level.

Nurul said students should not be victimised by the constantly changing education policies of the government.

"Students and teachers weary of the changing games of ministers that has had a negative impact on the country's education plan," she added.