PBDS: Reintroduce UPSR, PT3 to restore student focus and direction

KUCHING (Jan 11): Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has urged the Education Ministry to reintroduce the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) without further delay as part of a national effort to restore focus, direction, and long-term vision among pupils and students.

Its information chief Sigie Badang said the party is deeply concerned that the absence of standardised national assessments at the primary and lower secondary levels has contributed to declining academic discipline, weakened learning motivation, and a lack of clear educational goals, particularly among pupils and students in rural and underserved communities.

“Previously, the Ministry of Education abolished UPSR and PT3 on the grounds that these national examinations were no longer considered the most relevant instruments for assessing student learning. The Ministry transitioned towards a more holistic, school‑based and classroom‑based assessment system that emphasised continuous evaluation rather than reliance on examination results alone.

“This shift was also intended to reduce pressure on students and encourage more creative teaching and learning in line with the National Education Philosophy. The last UPSR was conducted in 2021 before it was officially abolished, while PT3 was cancelled in 2021 and formally abolished in 2022 as part of this transition, he said in a statement.

While acknowledging the good intentions behind this reform, Sigie said the party maintains that its implementation has not achieved the intended outcomes on the ground.

“In reality, the removal of UPSR and PT3 has created uncertainty within the education system, weakened accountability, and reduced the sense of purpose and direction among pupils and students,” he added.

Sigie pointed out that UPSR and PT3 had historically served as important benchmarks of learning achievement, with UPSR providing early structure, discipline, and direction at the primary level, while PT3 functioned as a critical transitional assessment for lower secondary students before progressing to upper secondary education.

“These assessments were not merely academic evaluations; they also helped cultivate discipline, mental resilience, and readiness for higher educational challenges,” he stressed

He said PBDS firmly believed that education reform must be based on improvement, not total elimination.

“A reintroduced UPSR and PT3 should be strengthened and refined, with greater emphasis on higher-order thinking skills, conceptual understanding, and holistic student development, while reducing excessive reliance on rote memorisation,” he added.

For many rural pupils and students, including those from the Dayak community, Sigie said UPSR and PT3 had provided a fair and equitable platform to demonstrate ability and potential based on merit.

“The absence of standardised national assessments risks widening educational inequality, undermining fairness within the system, and disadvantaging students who lack strong external academic support and resources,” he said.

He stressed that preparing future generations requires clear expectations, structured assessment, and consistent early guidance.

“Discipline, focus, and direction do not occur by chance; they are cultivated through a planned, balanced, and accountable education system,” he added.

Therefore, PBDS called on the Education Ministry to take decisive and responsible action by reintroducing UPSR and PT3 in an improved, student-centred, and nationally standardised form, in the interest of producing a generation that is focused, resilient, disciplined, and future-ready.”

“A nation that gives direction to its children secures its future,” Sigie said.