Tests and Exams

SPM

My son is now in the thick of SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) 2022, it's equivalent to the O Levels. He has gone through his practical exams, Physics and Chemistry (he's in the science stream). He has gone through both Bahasa Malaysia and English Oral and Aural examinations. I meant to be with him for his written examination that will begin next week with Bahasa Malaysia. But the best laid plans tend to be waylaid and, in this instance, it's waylaid by chicken.....

Anyway, I hope to be around for the rest of his papers whenever possible. He is a bit concerned with 2 papers, Pendidikan Islam (Islamic Religious Knowledge) and History. Both are mugging subjects. He is quite comfortable with the rest of the papers. He was having issues with Additional Maths, but he is quite confident of passing it now.

As for me, having gone through 6 years of primary school, 5 years of secondary school, 2 years of college and a few more years of university, I have gone through my fair share of tests and examinations. Previously, those were the stress and pressures we faced as students. Achieving milestone after milestone and each time we want to get anywhere we will face tests after tests and exams after exams. Anything that we want to get another exam beckons.

I have not sat for any examination for a few years now but coming to this age, there's a few unfinished businesses that I would like to pursue purely for my own satisfaction. And if it opens some new doors, who am I to complain.

For my son, this will be his 3rd national exam with many more exams in his future. He is still not sure what he wants to be. His interest remains on computers and internet with this deep fixation on Physics and Mathematics. I may encourage him to pursue a career in Physics and become a Physicist. Hmmm, are big Bang Theory influencing me? No idea, but they make Physics intriguing. I was never the science type person, but my son is.

At the same time, he is part of the Lost Generation, children that studied online during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Movement Control Order. Studying was difficult and there was very little traction for some of them, my son included. He couldn't make head or tail with some of the subjects, having stressed and pressured teachers, in addition to his own challenges.

My daughter is in even worse shape. She has never gone through any national exams. Her one and only exam will be SPM in 2026. During her time, the UPSR (Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah), a national primary school exam was abolished. And again, during her time first the PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah), Lower Secondary Examination and then PT3 (Penilaian Tingkat 3), School-based Assessment were also abolished. Having her challenges, she first had dyslexia and then dyscalculia. First was reading challenges and the other is mathematics challenges. With Allah's blessings she overcame her reading challenges, but she had challenges with her maths. She couldn't grasp the principle.

I am not one of the parents that are fixated with grades, unlike some other parents that compares notes on how many As their children have obtained or which boarding school they are now in, but I do see some value with these national exams as it exerts a little pressure on the children and allows us to assess their capability. For now, with my daughter's challenges the current education system is not doing justice to her. We are concerned that it will put a damper on her spirit and morale.

We have been wondering if another curriculum would be best for her. My wife and I has been discussing on this, and we are still neither here nor there, but my son is growing up and I have discussed this with him. He feels that she should stay in the current school because even though she is struggling, the school and her friends knows her struggle and can be of help to her. Wise words from my growing son.

Anyone has any thoughts on this? Do comment.