No Time-Frame To Decide On UPSR, PMR Examinations - Muhyiddin

PUTRAJAYA, June 22 (Bernama) -- The government has not set any time-frame to decide whether to abolish or retain the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) and Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examinations, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

Muhyiddin, who is the Education Minister, said the government was in no hurry to decide on the matter.

He said he was still weighing the responses from all interested parties.

"When we are satisfied with it, we will announce the decision," he told reporters here after opening the 2010 Education Services Conference Tuesday.

Muhyiddin said on Sunday that the government was mulling over abolishing the two examinations as part of the effort to transform the country's education system which some said was too examination oriented.

He also called on the public as well as education experts to give their feedback on the proposal.

Muhyiddin said that so far the people had responded actively to the idea, putting forth arguments both in support and against the idea.

"Some agree that both examinations should be abolished while others want one of them retained. We are still waiting for others to give their views on the matter," he said.

All views would be collated and discussed at the ministry's level involving interested parties and stakeholders, he said.

He said that for a start the ministry had taken the initiative to scrutinise recommendations by several survey bodies on the country's examination system.