Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) said the academic session’s final examination (UASA) currently held in Year 4 requires pupils to revisit material covered from Year 1 to 3, making it overwhelming for many.

The UASA replaced national centralised exams such as the UPSR for Year 6, and PT3 for Form 3 students, which were abolished in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

The school-based exams are held yearly for students in Years 4 to 6 and Form 1 to 3.

Magpie chief Mak Chee Kin said besides having one UASA exam for Year 3 pupils, such exams should be ideally held every semester to keep them on their toes.

“The education ministry should realise it is not just the classroom-based assessments that need improvement, but also the morale of the students, who do not appear to be interested in touching their books if there are no exams (like UPSR and PT3),” Mak told FMT.

He was responding to the government’s insistence on having UASA exams, with education minister Fadhlina Sidek saying it is on par with international best practices.

Fadhlina said the assessments are not only class-based but also involve physical education, sports, co-curricular activities and psychometrics.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Anuar Ahmad questioned the government’s willingness to support school-based exams after noting that some classrooms have 45 students.

The educationist said the issue of compact syllabus at the primary level must be sorted out quickly so as to allow effective teaching.

“We know class-based assessments are better and more holistic, but are the teachers ready? Is our education system ready?” Anuar said.

“A packed syllabus means there is a lot to teach, and in a class, there are many types of students.

“How is the teacher capable of ensuring that everything in the syllabus is taught, especially in a classroom packed full of students?”