KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Sin Chew Daily) – Following the announcement by education ministry senior minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin to close all schools in the country in the wake of worsening coronavirus pandemic, how is the ministry going to assess Year 6 students' academic progress before they proceed to the secondary school next year?

National Union of Heads of Schools Malaysia acting president Cai Li Jia said during a telephone interview with Sin Chew Daily that although the schools are no longer able to conduct year-end assessment tests now, most schools have been carrying out classroom evaluation after each class, and therefore school authorities can provide the results of such evaluation if the education department needs the students' results for further decisions.

He said the year-end assessment tests were supposed to be conducted yesterday, but as schools remain closed until end of the year, such tests can no longer be conducted now.

"However, my school did an evaluation of the students in August based on their performance during the first three months of the year, as well as during online lessons throughout the MCO and after they returned to school in mid-July.

"We will provide the results of such evaluation if required.

"For schools that have not conducted such evaluation, they may use the results of classroom evaluation by the teachers after each class."

He said the union was still waiting for further instructions from the ministry. However, he urged parents not to be worried about this.