He said the main factor for the 0.02 points National Grade Average (GNP) drop in the overall performance was because of questions in the form of Higher Order Thinking Skills (KBAT) which posed a challenge to the candidates.
However, the drop was not very significant because it was below the GNP threshold 0.05 points which would have been a cause for concern, he told reporters after presenting UPSR result slips to students Sekolah Kebangsaan Puchong Jaya who scored 5As and 4As near here today.
Idris said KBAT content in the questions was at 40 per cent level this year as compared to 25 per cent previously.
“When we did the analysis, the drop was attributed to this (KBAT content)… this was where UPSR candidates made more mistakes as compared to questions not needing KBAT,” he said.
Idris said the ministry’s move to increase KBAT in the UPSR was part of its transformation measures to ensure the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025’s objective to produce student with KBAT was achieved.
The ministry, he said was taking steps to ensure an increase of 10 to 15 per cent KBAT type questions were inserted yearly not only in the UPSR but also other examinations.
On the leaks, he said the government was looking into Radio Frequency Identification Technology as an alternative measure to ensure leaks would never happen again.
In other developments, Idris said the Geography and History papers in the UPSR will no longer be test papers and the grading would be done based on course work by the students.
— BERNAMA
