PBS will encompass 3 components which are PBD, PAJSK and PPsi
by AUFA MARDHIAH / pic by BERNAMA
THE Ministry of Education (MoE) has decided to abolish the Form Three Assessment (PT3) for good and replace it with the updated version of school-based assessment (PBS).
Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said PT3 exams will not be held starting this year.
He added the PBS will encompass three components which are the classroom-based assessment (PBD), physical, sports and co-curricular-based assessment (PAJSK) and psychometric assessment (PPsi).
“The PBD Formative Assessment (continuous) will build up training programmes for administrators or teachers to strengthen the implementation of continuous assessment in schools,” he said in a press conference on Thursday.
Furthermore, the minister also announced that the implementation of the summative assessment will begin this year for the 2022/2023 session — with final reporting of academic sessions using the new format starting this year for session 2022/2023 — while mid reporting of academic sessions using the new format starting next year for session 2023/2024.
The decision was made after engagement sessions were conducted with Parent Teacher Association, teachers, school administrators, parents and relevant stakeholders, Radzi said further.
In terms of the question bank, the ministry will inform teachers on the opening access period for teachers to conduct exams based on what is determined by the school examination secretary.
However, for teachers teaching on the outskirts who may have problems with Internet connection, the school can inform the ministry through JPN and PPD for help in terms of preparing the question set.
Meanwhile, he highlighted that the final test results do not determine admission to a specific school, saying: “For admission to special schools, there will be a PKSK test to determine admission to special schools as implemented from 2020.
“For admission to Form Four with the PBS, teachers will discuss with parents to determine the best stream for the child based on teacher’s analysis.”
Following the ministry’s announcement on the extension of the contract of service teachers appointed in June 2020, Radzi informed that the excessive shortage of teachers makes the ministry use a different approach to the recruitment of new teachers.
“This is because the supply of teachers in the market and the needs of teachers in schools do not match, therefore, the ministry created a cluster on what subjects can graduates teach and priority will be given to graduates with educational backgrounds.
“Once the selection is done for graduates with educational backgrounds, only then will admission for non-educational backgrounds teachers be opened,” he added.