THE proposed standard assessments for Primary Six and Form Three are scheduled to start in 2025.
Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said that while it is still premature to elaborate, the ministry will focus on Dual Language Programme (DLP) subjects, namely Science, Mathematics and English.
He said the assessment is important to gauge the effectiveness of the DLP, alongside other initiatives that have been put in place to increase the uptake of STEM subjects.
“The standard assessment is scheduled to commence in 2025, when our current DLP students attain Primary 6.
“Rest assured that the proposed assessment will not cause undue stress to all parties – students, teachers, the schools, and parents,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) today.
Meanwhile, during a press conference later, Sagah, who is the Tarat assemblyman, expressed optimism of the federal government’s support for the plan.
“And it seems like there’s widespread support, even among the parents from the peninsula. The focus on improving assessments for primary students after six years of study is crucial for educational progress.
“Of course there is the school-based assessment; I know it is good, but I believe we want to do it better,” he added.
Earlier this month, Sagah said the state is determined to develop its own assessment examination for Year 6 pupils in all government schools.
He stressed the importance of the assessment in deciding whether students should be assigned to the science or arts stream, adding that it would be more difficult for them if they were placed randomly in a stream they are not accustomed to.
He said a total of 606 teachers have been trained under the Teaching of Science and Maths in English programme, also known as DLP Sarawak, on top of the 5,200 who have already been trained.
“Additionally, 1,700 non-option Science, Mathematics, and English teachers have been trained,” he said, adding that non-option teachers were not prepared for these topics during their teacher-training degree.
