Minister Details Efforts To Upgrade Education
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Education will bring in experts from the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) to conduct a survey on students' attainments from early primary to secondary levels of education in English, Mathematics and Science.

In a dialogue session with some 250 government primary and secondary school leaders yesterday, Minister of Education Pehin Dato Seri Setia Hj Awg Abd Rahman said it is hoped that the study will indicate the country's academic achievement level in those subjects compared to other countries regionally and internationally.

"It is crucial for us to obtain concrete data to help us to assess and see all aspects in implementing our educational programmes," said the minister.

He also revealed that based on cohort channel data of similar students in the stages of schools, the cohort pass rate for PSR level is only 73.4 per cent.

Similar cohorts that took PMB in 2003 achieved a 79.5 per cent pass rate. Meanwhile, in the `O' level examinations in 2005, the cohorts achieved 36.6 per cent (for five credits and above).

In this context, the Ministry targeted a 50 per cent upgrade in the level of academic performance, which is higher compared to the educational system's achievement at present, which is around 37 per cent for 2001 to 2005 for five `O' level credits and above.

Pehin Dato Seri Setia Hj Abd Rahman added that the percentage of students in government schools that take science subjects at `O' level from 2001 to 2005 lingers around 18 per cent.

"This-is small compared to the total number of students at schools," said the minister. "I hope to see a 100 per cent increase (from the present 18 per cent to 36 per cent)." Touching on the level of achievement of students in Maths and English, Pehin Dato Hj Abd Rahman said their attainment requires more effort, citing student achievements in the `O' level examinations from 2001 to 2004 at around 50 to 60 per cent.

Pehin Dato Seri Setia Hj Abd Rahman also highlighted other initiatives where a promotion opportunity will be given to teachers who show excellent performance. "The government of His Majesty is aware of the importance of enhancing student learning as well as teaching, which is dependent on the commitment of the teachers," said the minister. "It is appropriate for quality teachers to receive such rewards. When the time comes, the Ministry will give more positions for promotion to fulfill such intentions." -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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