KUALA LUMPUR - Many Malaysian parents heaved a sigh of relief and celebrated when the government last week announced the scrapping of the Primary 6 examination for 12-year-old school leavers from this year.
Known by its Malay abbreviation UPSR, the examination was Malaysia s equivalent of the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) in Singapore. When I found out that UPSR had been cancelled, I remembered how to breathe again, homemaker Anna Marie Tan, 42, whose daughter was to take the examination this year, told The Straits Times.
While primary school leavers will automatically enter secondary school, the UPSR results can determine their entry into top schools and boarding schools, sometimes stressing out students who have little time to eat, sleep, rest or play in their pursuit of straight As.
PETALING JAYA: There are much better ways to protest against sexual harassment than skipping or staying away from school, says Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam.
The teenager, who made headlines after exposing a teacher who had trivialised rape during a class discussion, said she did not approve of the call from the Nationwide School Walkout Day (NSWD) Alliance.
“For now, there are much better ways to handle the current situation. But we will take the next course of action if the government continues to take this issue lightly, ” the 17-year-old Ain tweeted yesterday.
She lodged a police report against a male Physical Education teacher for making jokes about rape in class and another after receiving a rape threat from a male classmate.
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan.
PETALING JAYA: Abolishing the Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) exam will augur well for the country’s primary education, say education groups and activists who welcome the government’s move.
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan said they have been pushing for the abolition of UPSR as a public exam for primary pupils for over five years.
“UPSR is so bent on pupils producing As and neglecting wholesome education.
“The whole education system is geared to achieving excellence in UPSR and nothing else, ” he said yesterday.
Earlier, the Education Ministry announced that the (UPSR) will be abolished starting this year while the Form Three Assessment Examination (PT3) will be cancelled for this year.
Genting staff vaccinated
Modified28 Apr 2021, 10:44 pm
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Key Highlights
Genting staff vaccinated
On Tuesday, rumours emerged on Twitter that some 1,500 staff at Genting Highlands hotels received Covid-19 vaccines, ahead of the more vulnerable groups. It blamed Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Khairy yesterday responded to the allegation, confirming that Pahang decided to vaccinate staff members at 56 hotels, including Genting hotels, without the federal government’s knowledge. He reprimanded them.
He also announced a change in policy in the deployment of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has a rare chance of blood clots among younger people.
It will be offered on a voluntary basis. Those who take up the offer will receive fast-tracked vaccination. Details will be announced in the near future.
PETALING JAYA: With schools closing nationwide to curb the spread of Covid-19, the 2021 Form Five cohort are more nervous about catching the virus than how their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) preparations will be impacted.
Still uncertain about when the national exams are to be held four months into the 2021 academic year, the SPM candidates who spent most of Form Four learning from home are now bracing themselves for another round of home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) one year on.
Despite the bumpy road, these students are determined not to let their preparations for the SPM be disrupted if face-to-face learning comes to a halt again.