New pupil evaluation system 'misunderstood'

A group of teachers who met with Second Education Minister Idris Jusoh today discovered that what  the ministry required under the Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah (PBS) system introduced for Standard One pupils in 2011 was different from what was related to and expected of them.

The group from Suara Guru Masyarakat Malaysia (SGMM), led by its pro-tem president Mohd Noor Izzat Mohd Johari, said the information relayed to the teachers by the ministry and what they understood to be implemented was different.

“There seemed to be miscommunication between the ministry, the Malaysian Examinations Board and teachers, resulting in the misunderstanding. For example, in the evaluation of the pupils, not all 'descriptors' or learning standards require evidence, and this was further verified by the board.

A descriptor is a level of understanding by the pupil, such as the skills of speaking and understanding, which have been fixed at a certain stage, before they can move up to another learning skill,

However, Noor Izzat said, the teachers were briefed differently, with the chief instructor telling them that each descriptor required evidence.

“The teachers understood that everything required evidence, and this has caused problems among teachers who felt burdened by the tasks involved.

“The problem, as we told the minister, arose because the teachers feared voicing dissent on the implementation of the system, as they feared action being taken against them.”

“However, in the meeting today, Idris assured us that teachers can voice their disapproval about the system with the ministry through proper channels, through the various teacher groups, including SGMM.

“This has been the assurance given by the minister, who wants to see an improving line of communication,” Noor Izzat told Malaysiakini when contacted after the two-hour-long meeting at the ministry today.

He said the ministry and the various teachers' groups, including SGMM and the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP), would monitor the proper way for the PBS system to be implemented and will give the necessary feedback to the ministry to rectify the problems arising.

The ministry has given a period of one year for the problems plaguing the PBS issue to be rectified.

The teachers have previously complained about the implementation of the PBS system, which they claimed was very taxing on them.

More data servers to be installed

On the problems with keying-in data for the results of students, Noor Izzat said, Idris admitted to having  problem with the data servers at the ministry, which the minister said would be resolved.

“During the meeting, we reminded the ministry of the numbers of teachers located nationwide, for it to be able to work out the number of servers required for the work to be done to be carried out smoothly.

“The minister also assured us that there will be more servers in place and reiterated Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's assurance that the matter would be resolved by April,” he said.

Teachers disappointed with the PBS system have set up an anti-SPPBS Facebook page, to voice the frustrations in trying to access the ministry's site set up to key-in the results of their pupils.

The teachers complained that they have had to stay up until the early morning as a result of keying-in the data after the ministry system kept failing to register their updates.

These grouses were also raised during the recent Umno general assembly, at which several delegates pushed the Education Ministry to rectify the problems.

Noor Izzat hoped the problem of keying in data would be rectified during the stipulated period.

He added that SGMM was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, during which it was able to air 85 percent of its grouses and problems, for which they were given assurances that solutions would be found.