Friday, July 16, 2010

Abolishing exams: first discussion on Monday


PUTRAJAYA (July 16, 2010): The first roundtable session on the proposed abolition of Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) will be held here on Monday.

Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said the discussion, which would be chaired by him at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, would be attended by about 100 educators.

They include state education directors, ministry's division directors, district education officers, principals, headmasters, union leaders and teacher association representatives, he told Bernama.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently said the government was studying the possibility of abolishing UPSR and PMR as the current system was too exam-oriented.

Alimuddin said the roundtable session would merely seek input and provide an opportunity to the ministry to explain the proposed abolition of the two public examinations.

"No decision will be made at the meeting. The rationale on the merit of abolishing the examinations will be presented by the Malaysian Examination Syndicate while participants will be given the opportunity to air their views," he said.

He said the second roundtable discussion would be held on July 27 involving academics, NGOs, politicians and other interested stakeholders.

Alimuddin said the input, including public opinion through the media and e-mail, would be compiled and presented to Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister in the middle of next month. -- Bernama

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