Sarawak’s proposed Year Six assessment to kick off in 2025, says state Education Minister

KUCHING: Sarawak’s proposed standard assessment for Year Six pupils is scheduled to commence in 2025, says state Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah.

He said this was when pupils in the state’s dual language programme (DLP) for the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English would reach Year Six.

“The assessment will focus on DLP subjects, namely science, mathematics and English.

“Such an assessment is vital as it will serve as a means to gauge the effectiveness of the DLP, alongside other initiatives which we have put in place to increase the uptake of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subjects in schools,” he told the Sarawak Legislative Assembly when winding up the debate on matters related to his ministry on Monday (Nov 27).

It was previously reported that Sarawak planned to introduce its own Year Six assessment in place of the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), which has been abolished.

Sagah said it was premature to elaborate further on the proposed assessment as his ministry was still deliberating the exercise.

However, he assured that it would not cause undue stress to the pupils, teachers, schools and parents.

Sagah later told reporters that his ministry was engaging with officers and experts on the implementation of the assessment.

“We are working it out. Our emphasis is on science, mathematics and English, not like before with so many subjects.

“After six years of studying in primary school, there must be some form of assessment to know how good the students are,” he said.

Sagah also said the proposal had received support from Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and the public.

“The Federal minister has agreed to help us. We have a committee chaired by my ministry’s permanent secretary together with the state education director,” he added.