SIBU: The improved school-based assessment (PBS) augurs well with teacher unions as it enables teachers to focus on class preparation and teaching.
Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) said this was because the new PBS gave teachers freedom and flexibility on when and how assessment could be done.
“Now, teachers can spend more time on preparation of their class.
“Previously, the problem with the system, especially the keying in of the data, the filing, the Internet problem and stress caused are the main issues.
“Now, teachers can think of focusing more on teaching rather than completing their evidences and descriptors every time they enter the class,” STU president Jisin Nyud said yesterday.
He was commenting on Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s statement that on the improved PBS, whereby teachers do not have to go through the taxing task of keying in data online from Apr 1.
Muhyiddin reportedly said data which the teachers had, could be kept by them offline, in their own systems, without keying it into a central system.
Muhyiddin believed this would reduce the workload currently borne by the teachers by as much as 70 to 80 per cent.
“With the announcement, STU would like to express its thanks and gratitude to the Ministry of Education (MOE) for listening to the teachers’ call,” said Jisin in appreciation.
Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) meanwhile, said teachers would no longer be ‘haunted’ by thoughts of difficulty of keying in data online.
“With this improvement, 80 per cent of teachers’ workload reduced, especially the task of entering data online and filing as well as preparing lots of evidences,” noted KGBS president Ahmad Malie.
He too thanked the ministry for listening to the plight of the teachers voiced through teacher associations and unions.
Ahmad added this further reflected MOE incorporating teachers’ input channelled through teacher associations and unions to elevate the performance of the country’s education.
He urged all teachers especially KGBS members to support the ministry’s effort in implementing PBS.
“Let us give full commitment and welcome the improved PBS with open arms to ensure that our country’s education system remain at the world class level,” said Ahmad.