UPSR: Only 187 in Sabah score all A's under new format

Only 187 pupils or 0.43 per cent of the 43,661 candidates in Sabah who sat for the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination scored straight A's under the new format this year.

Last year, a total of 1,612 pupils in Sabah obtained all A's under the previous format.

However, State Education Director Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul said there would be no comparison made with this year's results to the previous year's due to the change of format.

"The new and improved UPSR examination was introduced, which is in line with the implementation of the Primary School Standard Curriculum (KSSR) as well as to complement the implementation of the School-based Assessment (PBS), apart from promoting higher order thinking skills (KBAT) elements.

"The candidates this year were the first batch of pupils who underwent KSSR and PBS since Year One in 2011.

"The transformation of curriculum and assessment in primary school level was conducted to ensure a holistic, balanced and integrated development of the pupils' potentials.

"This development encompasses intellect, spiritual, emotional and physical to produce balanced, harmonious and well-mannered individuals," she said when announcing the UPSR 2016 results at Wisma Pendidikan, here, Thursday.

Maimunah said under the new format, UPSR is an examination to assess pupils' academic achievement in terms of literacy, numerical and reasoning skills or 4M (Menulis (Writing), Membaca (Reading), Mengira (Counting) and Menaakul (Reasoning)) and not merely on the number of A's attained by candidates.

"The UPSR results refer to the candidates' academic accomplishment based on content, learning and achievement standards as outlined in the Curriculum and Assessment Standards Document (DSKP) and do not refer to passes or failures."

The UPSR Average National Grade (GPN) for the State is 3.29 or 51.82 per cent this year and 22,626 candidates or 51.82 per cent scored at least a D in each subject this year.

According to Maimunah, 38,139 pupils at national schools and 5,522 candidates from national Chinese-type schools sat for their UPSR examination in September this year. This is also a decrease of 1,067 candidates this year, compared to last year's 44,728 pupils.

Among the best schools in the State were SK Pahu, Tuaran, SK St Edmund, Kota Belud, SK Bombalai (M), Tawau, SK St Agnes, Kota Kinabalu, SK Tobobon, Kota Kinabalu, SJKC Sin Boon Sindumin, Sipitang, SJKC Tsi Sin, Tenom, SJKC Good Shepherd, Kota Kinabalu and SJKC Shan Tao, Kota Kinabalu.

Year Six pupils this year sat for the UPSR examination based on the KSSR which replaced the Primary School Integrated Curriculum (KBSR) and for English, the subject was divided into two papers – Comprehension and Writing.

Maimunah also reminded candidates and parents that the application to recheck the papers must be done within 30 days after the date of announcement and submitted directly to the Education Ministry's Examination Board by Dec 16.

The recheck forms can be acquired at the respective schools or nearby District Education Offices.

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