KOTA KINABALU (Jan 12): Likas assemblyman Tham Yun Fook has voiced support for the potential reinstatement of the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), calling it a vital mechanism to reinforce the foundation of Malaysia’s education system.
In a statement responding to the Education Minister’s recent announcement on reconsidering the Year Six examination, Tham described centralised examinations like UPSR as more than academic evaluations but serve as a national benchmark to gauge pupils’ mastery of basic literacy and numeracy skills.
“UPSR helps teachers, parents and the Ministry of Education identify learning gaps early and design more effective interventions, especiallyly for students in rural areas and from low-income families,” he emphasised.
The Likas assemblyman added that the UPSR results support a more structured shift from primary to secondary school by aiding in appropriate class placement, early detection of support needs, and suitable stream selection based on student ability.
“This can help reduce learning shock and adjustment stress when students enter secondary school,” Tham noted.
According to him, UPSR also instills learning discipline, provides sustained motivation, and offers objective data for long-term education planning at the national level.
However, he stressed that reintroducing UPSR must be done in a balanced and humane manner, avoiding excessive pressure on pupils.
School-based assessments should complement the exam to ensure academic and character development progress together.
Tham pointed out that introducing a standardised Year Six exam was among Parti Warisan’s key pledges in recent state election.
“We welcome the federal Education Minister’s announcement, as it aligns with one of Warisan’s core policies,” he said.
“It also reflects the ministry’s recognition of people-oriented policies long advocated by Parti Warisan.”
For the long-term health of the national education system and to ensure equitable learning opportunities, Tham urged the ministry to move promptly in reintroducing an improved UPSR that meets current needs.
“As part of the federal Unity Government, Parti Warisan is always ready to cooperate and provide full support for any policy that benefits the people, especially Sabahans who have long been left behind,” he added.
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