Year Four tests give weaker pupils a fighting chance

Year Four tests give weaker pupils a fighting chance

KUALA LUMPUR: The introduction of standardised tests in Year Four will ensure earlier intervention can be provided to weaker students before they proceed to secondary school.

Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, who welcomed the introduction of the Year Four tests and reintroduction of assessments for Form Three students from 2027, said the move was a step in the right direction.

The Sarawak deputy education, innovation and talent development minister, who previously called for the reintroduction of the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah and Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga examinations, said early intervention was vital.

“We will be able to tell who is weak and who needs extra classes. I am looking forward to details on the Education Ministry’s intervention plans,” he said.

“I believe there is a need for a mechanism that will see weaker students either receive extra classes or be retained for another year in the same class.”

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He said there was no point in allowing weak students to progress to Year 5 if they lacked the necessary foundations as they would be unable to cope.

Dr Annuar also said the Form Three assessment was important, but believed students should be placed in streams most suited to them rather than being given a choice, as is the practice now.

Presently, upper secondary students are required to take core subjects and may choose from four elective packages: STEM, Humanities and Arts, Languages and Islamic Studies.

On Sarawak’s own Year Six assessment, Ujian Penilaian Dual Language Programme (UP-DLP), Annuar said the state government would discuss the matter.

“UP-DLP is benchmarked and vetted by Cambridge University Press and Assessment, so the standards are different. But we welcome the Year Four assessment as it would allow us to detect weaker students earlier.”

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He said the inclusion of History in the Form Three assessment was a good move.

“All Malaysians must know the history of the country. Our generation is made up mostly of those born after Merdeka.

“There is a need to place greater emphasis on the formation of Malaysia to better foster respect,” he said, adding that this included the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“It is like a birth certificate; it should be detailed in our history books.”

On making SPM-level Bahasa Melayu compulsory for all Malaysian students, Dr Annuar said the move was necessary.

“It is quite sad that many still have a poor command of Bahasa Melayu even though it is the national language. We want everyone to master Bahasa Melayu and, at the same time, have a good command of English.”