Sarawak ready to implement Year Four, Form Three evaluations alongside Dual Language Assessment

File photo for illustration purposes only. Photo: F1 Digitals/Pixabay

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Feb 4: Sarawak is ready to implement the Year Four Learning Measurement in 2026 and the Form Three Learning Measurement in 2027 under the Malaysia Learning Matrix, alongside the Dual Language Assessment Programme Sarawak (UP-DLP Sarawak).

Responding to feedback from various quarters, the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) confirmed that the current UP-DLP Sarawak framework will be retained, ensuring compliance with the Ministry of Education (MOE) Malaysia’s approval and avoiding confusion among teachers, students, and parents.

In a statement today, MEITD said the UP-DLP Sarawak marks a significant milestone for the state’s Dual Language Programme (DLP), reinforcing the Sarawak government’s commitment to strengthening both academic mastery and language proficiency among students.

The ministry emphasised that the success of UP-DLP Sarawak reflects the capability of Sarawak’s education system, the professionalism of its educators, and the readiness of students to undertake structured, standardised assessments.

The programme received formal approval from the MOE under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), allowing Sarawak to conduct state-based assessments within the DLP Sarawak framework.

The development and execution of UP-DLP Sarawak involved close collaboration among multiple stakeholders, including the Sarawak Education Department, schools and educators statewide, Swinburne Innovation Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SWIM) as the implementing agency, partner institutions i-CATS University College and University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), as well as examination, security, and logistics agencies, parents, and students.

Despite regulatory and operational challenges, the assessment was implemented in full compliance with national examination standards, ensuring credibility, recognition, and continuity for students. Comprehensive preparations included guideline development, committee formation, strict examination security protocols, statewide briefings, online registration, question setting and vetting, printing, distribution, supervision, and marking processes.

Statewide logistics and security operations were successfully carried out, including in remote and rural areas, with student safety and examination integrity maintained as top priorities.

On the reintroduction of centralised assessments at Year Four and the continuation of Form Three evaluations, MEITD said these measures underline the importance of standardised assessments in promoting equity, comparability, and quality assurance nationwide.

UP-DLP Sarawak, implemented in alignment with MA63, reflects Sarawak’s educational aspirations and demonstrates the state’s readiness, technical capacity, and governance maturity in administering standardised assessments within the national framework. — DayakDaily