SHAH ALAM, Nov 10 — Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has described the reasons for abolishing the Primary School Assessment Test (UPSR) as unreasonable, urging the government to reconsider reinstating the primary school examination.
He said that if examinations are claimed to produce "parrot-like students", then by that logic, the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) should also be abolished, as it similarly assesses students’ mastery of knowledge.
“UPSR is essential in measuring students’ academic proficiency at the primary level and helps teachers identify weaknesses that need improvement. Therefore, it should be reinstated,” Asyraf said in a Facebook post today.
He outlined five key reasons why the examination should be reintroduced, including its role in nurturing discipline, responsibility, and resilience among students in facing challenges.
"Examinations instil important values like planning, perseverance, and time management. They also teach children the meaning of patience, faith, and consistent effort — because success never comes easily,” Asyraf said.
He added that the UPSR also serves as a critical screening mechanism for admission into boarding schools, Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM), and religious secondary schools, while promoting healthy competition among students.
A Media Selangor Facebook poll yesterday found that around 90 per cent of respondents agreed that major primary-level examinations should be maintained as a means to evaluate students’ understanding and academic achievement.
Many parents have also voiced hopes for the UPSR, abolished five years ago, to be reinstated to ensure a balanced education system that develops both academic performance and character.
The UPSR was fully abolished in 2021, while the Form Three Assessment (PT3) was discontinued in the same year.
Then senior education minister Datuk Radzi Jidin said the decision was made following extensive stakeholder engagement, following the suspension of examinations in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Following the abolition, the School-Based Assessment system and the Special School Admission Assessment (PKSK) were strengthened for students seeking entry into boarding and specialised schools.
