IPOH: The move to abolish the Form Three Assessment (PT3) and implement the school-based assessment (PBS) is meant to help develop a student’s growth.

       Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said PBS was introduced about 10 years ago and it was meant to enable children to develop their skills and talents.

       “We do not want our children to just focus on schoolwork.

       “A lot of other developed countries are enabling their children to develop skills,” he said after launching the Barisan Nasional Ipoh Barat MCA Coordinator Centre at Jalan Sultan Yussof here yesterday.

       “Some students are good in academic matters, while others are good in writing, photography, innovation and agriculture,” he said.

       He added that skills’ development would make learning more fun.

       “We also need to focus on other important aspects like their well-being, character and identity.

       “The abolition of the PT3 was also done according to the times,” he said.

       National Union of the Teaching Profession of Malaysia (NUTP) president Aminuddin Awang had reportedly said that the body’s concern over the implementation of PBS was that it could contain elements of bias, favouritism and fraud.

       The evaluation of students under PBS would include classroom-based (PBD) assessment as well as physical, sports, co-curricular and psychometric assessments.

       Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin announced on June 2 that PT3 examinations would be done away with from this year.

       Dr Mah said the Education Ministry would hold more sessions to explain to the stakeholders, including teachers and parents, on the decision to abolish the PT3 and implement the PBS.

       “I am aware of the concerns and it is important that we continue to explain to the people so that they understand our purpose of taking this step.

       “We hope (everyone) will work with us, especially the teachers and parents, so that it can be implemented smoothly,” he said.

       In his speech during the launch, Dr Mah, who is MCA deputy president, hoped that all Barisan component parties and members would stay loyal to each other as they prepare to face the 15th General Election.

       “The spirit of friendship and loyalty between MCA, MIC and Umno is important. We may have our differences in opinions but we should use this to strengthen ourselves,” he said.