PT 3 Versus PMR

The Assessment for Form 3 well known PT3 was announced last December, 2014.There are lots of commenting,unhappy and disagree from parents, public and few teachers on the result of achievement. Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) or Lower Secondary Assessment was  established since more than two decades ago to replace Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP) or Lower Certificate of Education (LCE). The PT3 examination was early introduced last year with several subjects such as Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Inggeris, Sains, Matematik, Kemahiran Hidup and Pendidikan Islam, Bahasa Cina, Bahasa Tamil, Bahasa Iban, Bahasa Punjabi in school. PT3 is part of the component  PBS or The School Based Assessment was implementing in school since 2012 for form one (1) intake.Last year was the first cohort of our new born baby for PT3 assessment.

PT3 examination

The PT3 examination is one of the indicators to assess students performance beside school assessment, psychometric and physical education familiar known Pendidikan Aktiviti Jasmani Sukan dan Ko-Kurikulum (PAJSK).The public should not be confusing between PT3 and PMR because there are lots of different between the two system.The assessment is not a new thing but ongoing in school during teaching and learning process in the classroom.The assessment process is more focusing on collecting information, listening, hearing, observation, verbal and oral speaking,getting data  and all kind of sources to assess students.The PT3 instrument was set up base on thinking skills (HOTS) High order thinking skills or KBAT Kemahiran berfikir aras  tinggi  almost in all subject.This is the new paradigm to encourage our youngsters thinking beyond the scope and school territories to explore knowledge and thinking skills wisely.We want our students thinking one step ahead to foresee their  bright future.The Malay proverb says like a frog under the coconut shell should be avoid from students mentality  and educators in the competitive and  challenging era.

Source: Internet

Thinking paradigm 

We may be asked what's wrong with PT3 ? and what is the advantage of PMR? For the past two decades, we were using PMR examination as  a  platform to measure our students performance.Each state will show their best candidates with straight A's  among the country base on PMR result. We were proud of excellence result every year.The students mind set should be parallel with their result as epitome of erudite candidates. Our national philosophy is a pillar of education system to produce human capital in all fields base on physical, emotion,ritual and intellectual development or better known JERI, jasmani, emosi, rohani dan intelek to nurture the country.Teachers,students, parents and public are concerning on grade "how many A's"  to indicate the achievement of their son and daughter in PMR.

PT3 versus PMR

The comparison between PMR and PT3 is very clear.The PMR examination format is more on multiple choices and less of critical thinking paradigm.The new concept of assessment considering all factors, not only on PT3 examination it self. PT3 is part of the assessment in SBA. It is unfair to measure our students just because of unsatisfactory in PT3 examination without taking into account the school assessment,the study case of History and Geography, psychometric, physical education (PAJSK) to be include for the whole process of achievement. We do hope the Ministry of Education will seriously look into this matter to ensure our society accepting the change for the better future.I personally confidence of our teachers, assessors,who really work strictly base on procedures and instructions from the authority- Examination Syndicates to realize the result performance of  PT3 last year.

Source: Ehsan BTPKPM

Che Yahya Che Soh

Principal SMKSB@STAR
(Malay Medium)

Segambut,Kuala Lumpur.

Thursday 29 January,2015.