Kuala Lumpuir, Malaysia:
"Some of our national exams are to be reviewed and if found to be too burdensome to our kids, they will be axed." So said the Education Minister of Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin. He is also the Deputy Prime Minister.
"Alas! The government have heard our opinions," said some of our educationists.
The Examination System in place is not much different from those practised in many Asian countries. The utmost attention is placed on achieving as many A’s as possible. Some students even took more subjects than those officially permitted.
Even if the actual number of subjects officially imposed are eleven [11] some students took the challenge to score straight A’s in seventeen subjects. Of course by doing they proved that they are bright and thus very eligible for placements to top universities. On the other hand these students tend to miss much of their young life.
This scenario has indeed worried many concerned Malaysians. Most agreed that a good education is important to a kid but as kids are they also need to unwind. Most parents who called for the change confided that they also want their children to enjoy their young life.
These are the developments that compelled the Education Ministry to study the need to replace the UPSR and PMR examinations with localised tests.
In the Malaysian school system, the UPSR is compulsory for those in primary year six. The PMR is to be passed three years after that.