WILL REMOVING ALL EXAMS GOOD FOR PUPILS?

Bismillahirahmanirahim

Assalamualaikum, and a very good morning to judges, audience and my fellow friends. Let
me introduce myself. My name is __________________________________________ and I’m from
Sekolah Kebangsaan Lepar, Pekan.

Ladies and gentlemen

Today, I would like to talk about, “will removing all examinations good for pupils in learning?”

FOR many years, standardised examination scores were central in the assessment of school
students in Malaysia. The overuse of testing, however, can damage an education system
when there’s too much emphasis on data from the exam. Most schools had focused on
exam-preparation programmes to get more students to score straight As. Extra focus was
also given to those who showed potential in scoring for exams.

Students who performed well during exams were grouped together in a class and taught by
more experienced teachers while the rest were usually left behind. In return, parents realised
that in order to receive more attention in school, their children must score during exams to
be placed in the classes. As a result, the harm had probably been more severe in
disadvantaged rural schools.

However, more recently, we have seen a reduction of central exam . During the
announcement of the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) in 2018, even the latest one,
the abolishment of PT3 examination, the Education Ministry stressed on the need to focus
not only on the results but also the overall Primary School Assessment Report. This includes
Classroom Assessment; Physical, Sports and Extracurricular Activities Assessment; and,
Psychometric Assessments.

This trend of abolishing stressful examinations is not just happening here in this country. In
an effort to move away from overemphasis on academic results, schools in Singapore will
reduce the number of examinations across different levels. The country is consistently
ranked at the top of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
programme for the International Student Assessment (PISA). A different PISA ranking in
2015 designed to look at collaborative problem-solving also placed Singaporean students
first in the list, proving the education system has worked for their students.

The same cannot be said for Malaysia after ten years of implementing PBS to create
independent students with critical and analytical abilities. After too many changes in our
education system, there should be consideration that reforms now should be tested first,
before they are rolled out. Critics against the examination-based system say that the
assessments should be producing students who are able to understand properly the subject
matter of their studies, rather than merely memorising them for examinations.

Removing or scrapping exams may not be the answer to a better education system. We
should make sure what mix of assessment tasks is most suitable for our students. In order
to do that, teachers must be guided in producing different types of assessments like class
tests, projects and presentations. These assessments too need to work for both students
and teachers. The methods should make a real difference to learning and at the same time,
cut teachers’ workload rather than adding to it.

Project-based tasks is one of the assessment that is seen as an option to replace exams. It
can draw on students’ creativity and interest which helps in develop several important
higher-order thinking skills, such as decision-making and analysis. Examinations may be
stressful, they are not all that bad. They can also improve learning. Studying and sitting for
exams deepen the learning process. It is said that it is comparable to exercising. When one
exercises, the muscles in use grow stronger. When sitting for an exam, the process of
searching through one’s memory to retrieve the relevant information strengthens the
memory pathway. Rather than passively reading and remembering by rote, we want our
students to study by forming appropriate questions, searching memory for relevant
responses, and knitting this information together into appropriate answers.

School assessment is a process of gathering and analysing evidence about student learning,
and used to enhance teaching and learning. It can also help educational decision-making.
Information from these assessments can also indicates students' academic competencies
and readiness for the next level of education. When implemented properly, the information
can support students to achieve intended learning outcomes through feedback and ensure
that they are not left behind in studies. That way we will get better results for our children,
not only the number of As that we chased.
It is understandable to feel scared, anxious or helpless during this unprecedented time. But
whatever situation you are in and wherever you are in the Pacific, you have the power to
look after your mental health and well-being. 

Talking to someone you trust – whether a friend, a family member, or a colleague – can
help. You may feel better if you are able to openly share what you are going through with
someone who cares about you. If you live in an area where face-to-face interactions are
limited, you can still stay connected with your loved ones through a video call, phone call or
messaging app.

Taking care of your physical health helps improve your mental health and well-being. Be
active for at least 30 minutes daily, whether that’s running, walking, yoga, dancing, cycling,
or even gardening. Eat a balanced and healthy diet. Make sure to get enough sleep.

Try to continue doing the activities that you find meaningful and enjoyable, such as cooking
for yourself or your loved ones, playing with your pet, walking in the park, reading a book, or
watching a film or TV series. Having a regular routine with activities that make you feel
happy will help you maintain good mental health

Don’t use harmful substances such as drugs, kava, alcohol or tobacco to cope with what
you’re feeling. Though these may seem to help you feel better in the short term, they can
make you feel worse in the long run. These substances are also dangerous and can put you
and those around you at risk of diseases or injuries.

If you feel like you cannot cope with the stress that you are facing, seek professional help by
calling your local mental health helpline or getting in touch with your counsellor or doctor.
Remember you are not alone, and there are things you can do to support your emotional
wellbeing.