60:40 ratio for School-Based Assessment and exams, suggests PIBGN

The government should now consider having the School-Based Assessment (PBS) and national examinations in primary and secondary schoolS.

This is the suggestion given by National Parent-Teacher Association Collaborative Council (PIBGN) when asked to comment on the indefinite suspension of the PBS pending a full review by the Education Ministry.

PIBGN president Assoc Prof Dr Mohamad Ali Hassan said the evaluations based on PBS and examinations should be at a 60:40 ratio.

“I suggest that we have a 60% PBS and 40% examinations that is synchronised throughout the country,” Mohamad Ali told Astro AWANI.

He explained that the higher weightage given to PBS will encourage students to focus on continuous studies that are less exam-oriented.

At the same time, by having examinations that is comparable throughout the country, it would discourage schools from giving their students marks that are too high due to the non-standardisation.

“We want the standard of education to be comparable. Easier to compare. We want to make sure teachers don’t promote favouritism when making evaluatoin about their school work.

“I believe there must be a compromise between 100 percent school-based evaluation and exam based evaluation. We’ll like students to have fun studying throughout the year. I used this for my university students and I don’t see them, or myself being very stressed,” he said.

Mohamad Ali said that the ministry should not rush through the review.

“Now is a good time to pause, get wide feedback, including parents and professionals, make sure everything is in order before re-implementing it at the earliest in the beginning of the new year.

“We want to get it right this time,” said Mohamad Ali.