SIBU: All Sarawak Dual Language Programme (DLP) students in Year 6 from 2025, and Form 3 from 2028, will sit for the Standard Assessment examination.
According to Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, the examination will help assess the performance of students across Sarawak.
“We can identify schools that need our assistance if their students achieve poor results,” he said when to reporters after officiating at the MLNG Bestari Outreach Programme at SMK Jalan Oya here Saturday (Nov 23).
He added that the examination would be conducted by his ministry in collaboration with Cambridge University Press and Assessment.
Meanwhile, for schools not under the DLP, he stated it is open to discussion should they wish to participate in the examination.
“For instance, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) not under the DLP may want their students to take the exam.
“There are also private schools enquiring whether they can participate in the exam. This is something we can discuss.
“No decision has been made for them yet, but this examination is specifically for national schools (SK) under the DLP scheme,” he added.
Meanwhile, in his Facebook post on Friday (Nov 22), Dr Annuar said that the examination is a holistic approach to identifying or assessing the potential of Sarawak students.
“This also demonstrates that the Sarawak government is proactive in addressing the concerns of many parents, who worry that their children lack an early-stage assessment and are unsure where their education level stands compared to others across Sarawak (after the abolition of Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR)),” he said.
He added that discussions will be held with the Ministry of Education regarding admissions to Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) and boarding schools.
“However, for the Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School, students sitting for this examination and achieving good results may be considered for admission to YSISS,” he said.
He emphasised that this examination is not held merely for the sake of having an exam but has its own purpose.
“What is most valuable about this examination is that their certificate will bear the stamp of Cambridge University, a symbol of academic achievement with high international recognition,” he said.
Also present were the Senior Vice President of LNG Assets Abang Yusuf Abang Puteh, Malaysia LNG Group of Companies managing director and chief executive officer Mohamed Syazwan Abdullah @ Laga Jenggi and Principal of SMK Jalan Oya Dr Zulkarnain Farihin Abdullah.
