Duo suspended over UPSR leaks in the clear - Idris Jusoh

Two Malaysian Examinations Board officials, who were suspended over the leaks in last year's Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) examination papers, are in the clear.

Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the duo, former board director Dr Na'imah Ishak and former deputy director of operations Dr Wan Ilias Wan Salleh were still in service but were no longer in their previous portfolios.

"The investigation has been done by the Independent Committee to Review Public Examinations in Malaysia. The committee has handed over their findings and she has not been found guilty," he told reporters here today, adding that this also applied to Dr Wan Ilias.

Earlier, he witnessed the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and Admissions Testing Service, University of Cambridge.

The decision to suspend the duo then was taken following the leaks involving the English and Science papers.

Following the leakS, the UPSR English papers 014/1 and 014/2 and Science papers 018, 028 and 038 had to be resit on Sept 30.

It was also found that Tamil papers 036 and 037 and Mathematic papers 015/1, 025/1 and 035/1 had been leaked and had to be resit on Oct 9.

The independent committee submitted a report on the 2014 UPSR examination to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister, on Jan 21.

The document submitted by committee chairman Tun Zaki Azmi included 15 recommendations to improve public examinations, involving the definition and work processes at production, operation and management level.

It also contained an analysis and evaluation of work processes and standard operating procedures of public examinations managed by the Malaysian Examinations Board.

The report said the independent committee met 22 times and obtained input from briefings, interviews, working visits and the public.

The MOA inked today is to provide assessment tools and services related to the selection of applicants for UTP's foundation and undergraduate programmes.

UTP vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Hashim and Simon Beeston, director of the Admissions Testing Service, signed the pact for the respective organisations.

On another matter, Idris said the government was committed to enhancing English proficiency in schools, including by linking up with Cambridge University.

He said 5,000 teachers underwent English language training last year.

"Some 9,500 teachers are currently undergoing the training and should complete it in the middle of this year," Idris said, adding that they would be followed by another cohort comprising some 8,000 teachers.