PETALING JAYA: Will the abolition of the Form Three Assessment (PT3) examination lead to students lacking the drive to hit the books?Without the need for revisions before exams, there is a possibility that parents would stop buying guide and reference books for their children.

       The Malaysian Book Industry Chambers believes their fears may come true, and is calling for some form of intervention.

       “With the abolition of the examinations, there are fears that the students and parents, especially in the rural and semi-rural areas, may feel less motivated to buy academic guide and revision books now,” its chairman Keith Thong said.

       Thong, who is also president of the Malaysian Book Sellers Association, suggests that the government implement a system where such students are provided academic guide and revision books for free.

       “While parents in urban areas can buy the books to ensure their children do their revision, this may not be the case for those in the rural areas,” he said as he tried to make the case that such books should be made easily available to students from B40 families.

       Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin said most book publishers had been anticipating the move to scrap the exam.

       “The PT3 examination was suspended last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, the ministry made it official by announcing its abolition.

       “Most book publishers anticipated this and expect to see sales drop by about 30%,” he said.

       Mak said parents who used to buy three to four guide and revision books for their Form Three children would now likely just buy one instead.

       “They may buy one book just to ensure their children don’t remain idle,” he said.