By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, April 15: There will be no Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) for Primary Six students and Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) for Form Three students for 2020.
Senior Minister (Education) Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin made the announcement in a press conference this afternoon.
School sessions nationwide have been put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Movement Control Order (MCO) which began on March 18.
The MCO is currently in its third phase which will end on April 28.
“The UPSR and PT3 for 2020 have been canceled. However, the cancellation will not affect the assessment process for students’ mastery in their lessons at either primary or lower secondary levels.
“Since UPSR results are one of selection criteria for admission to boarding schools, National Religious Secondary Schools (SMKA), Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) and Royal Military College (MTD), the Ministry of Education (MOE) will introduce a new method for this purpose and not just focuse on academic performance alone,” Dr Mohd Radzi said.
He pointed out that as for PT3, the exam’s cancellation will not affect assessment either as a new method will be used as selection criteria for students applying to enter boarding or vocational schools.
The decision applies to all government schools, government-aided schools, private schools and any other education institution registered with the MOE.
Schools that are not registered with MOE are also encouraged to follow the decision.
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM) examinations will be postponed and carried forward to the first quarter of 2021.
As for Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), exam dates for Semester 2 have been changed to August 2020 while Semester 3 exams will held in the first quarter of 2021.
Noting that the delay in the examination dates will affect students’ entry into higher education, Dr Mohd Radzi said the MOE and the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) have agreed to postpone the new admission dates at all Institutes of Higher Learning (IPTs) for matriculation and diploma programmes until July or August 2021 while intakes for degree programmes will be in September or October 2021.
“The MOE would like to emphasise that the reopening of schools after the MCO are subject to current developments and advice from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Security Council (MKN).
“Any changes and updates will be disclosed from time to time after taking into consideration our students’ safety and health factors,” he added.
Meanwhile, MOE asserted that they will always discuss with MOH on reopening of schools.
“MOE will announce the school reopening date at least two weeks in advance. The decision to reopen our schools will only be made when we are absolutely certain that the situation is back to normal. At this stage, the opening of schools will only involve public examinations such as SPM, SVM, STPM, Malaysian Higher Religious Certificate (STAM) and international examinations.” — DayakDaily
