Support for Review of UPSR and PT3

14 January 2026

KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Education Malaysia’s (MOE) move to reactivate the National Education Advisory Council to review the need for the reintroduction of the Form Three Assessment (PT3) and the Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) has been welcomed by various quarters, including experienced educators.

Former Excellent Headteacher, Yazid Mohd Hasnan Tawik @ Charles, said the review is highly timely and aligned with the current needs of the national education system, particularly in assessing the effectiveness of existing assessment mechanisms.

According to him, the earlier abolition of UPSR and PT3 had sparked mixed reactions among parents, teachers and the wider community, many of whom see the need for a clearer and more standardised national benchmark to measure pupils’ achievement.

“While School-Based Assessment (SBA) has its own strengths, centralised examinations such as UPSR and PT3 can serve as an important complement in assessing pupils’ levels of mastery more objectively,” he said in a statement today.

The former school administrator added that centralised examinations can help ensure fairness in evaluating pupils’ performance, especially in rural and remote schools that face limitations in resources and facilities.

In this regard, he expressed hope that the findings of the review to be presented to the Cabinet will take into account the views of all stakeholders, including experienced teachers, parents and education experts.

“This inclusive approach is crucial to ensure that the assessment system developed is truly fair, balanced and effective for the future of our children,” he said.

Yazid is currently active in community organisations as a Supreme Committee Member of the Sabah Association of Former Educators (PMPS) and Chairman of the Bingkor Community Welfare Association.