Independent Concensus Says No to Proposed Scrapping of UPSR, PMR

Heading a press conference held by the Consensus at the parliament lobby here, Bagan Serai MP Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri said the UPSR was for measuring the academic performance of Year Six students and the PMR, after nine years of schooling.

"More than that, the two public examinations also measure the effectiveness of teaching and learning among districts and states, as well as among schools with different socio-economic backgrounds.

"The rationale of the UPSR and PMR making the national education system too exam-oriented cannot be denied, but abolishing them is not the best solution. This is because only a balance between academic achievement and co-curricular involvement will create an education system that is holistic," he said.

Mohsin Fadzli said the teacher training methodology and school syllabus should thus be reviewed to create a holistic system of education.

He also noted that the country's education system appeared to depend on the whims of the minister.

"The system changes according to who holds the education portfolio. Therefore, the Consensus suggests that the government formulate a long-term national education system that is consistent and has continuity," he said.

The press conference was also attended by Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju), Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim Bandar Bharu) and Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal).

The Independent Consensus was set by five members of parliament who were previously from Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara) at a separate press conference said that without changing the present teaching system to encourage creativity, critical thinking and innovation, removing examinations would make no difference to the quality of education.

"However, we would like to express our thanks to the deputy prime minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) for also stating that the ministry would not act in haste and wanted the public to give feedback to help improve the public examination system," he said.