Umno has stepped up calls for major reforms to Malaysia’s education system, urging the reinstatement of the UPSR and PT3 examinations while proposing new legislation to protect teachers.
Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party would push for a Teachers’ Protection Act, arguing that educators today face growing vulnerabilities, particularly in relation to disciplinary authority, an increase in administrative demands and their overall welfare.
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In his winding-up address at the Umno General Assembly, Ahmad Zahid contrasted contemporary attitudes with those of previous generations, noting that teachers once enjoyed firm backing from parents when disciplining students.
He said punishments meted out at school were typically reinforced at home, recalling that children who complained about being caned were often punished again by their parents for misbehaviour.
“Now, it is the teacher who is scolded, confronted or even reported to the police by parents,” he said, arguing that this shift has left educators exposed and increasingly hesitant to enforce discipline in schools.
Ahmad Zahid stressed that institutional safeguards were urgently needed, adding that teachers must be given clear legal protection to carry out their responsibilities without fear of retaliation.
Datuk seri dr ahmad zahid hamidi
Education Minister echoes similar proposal
Ahmad Zahid’s remarks come amid similar sentiments expressed recently by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, who said that the proposal comes following continuous requests from parents to bring back the exams.
Both examinations were abolished in 2021 and 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic to shift the Malaysian education system away from an exam-oriented model towards a more holistic, school-based assessment approach that focuses on student well-being and overall development.
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Also read: UPSR & PT3 Exams May Be Reintroduced After Being Abolished to Reduce Student Stress
