KUALA LUMPUR: The number of Chinese primary school pupils joining international secondary schools after Year 5 has increased over the last two years after the abolition of UPSR.

Such a trend is happening in well-to-do families in the cities.

To the families, the children “graduate” from Chinese primary schools earlier to attend secondary schools.

A random check with Chinese primary schools in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor reveals that some parents let their children sit for international school entrance tests to study in Year 7 at the age of 11.

This means that the pupils will cut short their studies at a primary school by one year.

Ng Leong Sing, chairman of SJK (C) Lai Meng in Kuala Lumpur, said the number of the school’s Year 5 pupils transferred to international schools is on the rise.

He is of the view that the main reason for such a trend is because the government has abolished the UPSR for Year 6 pupils.

“Some parents feel that even if their children complete six years of primary school education, the children do not sit for UPSR. Many have opted to transfer their children to international schools after Year 5,” he said.

A total of 128 pupils from the school have been transferred to international schools, including 39 Year 5 pupils.

Of the school’s 963 pupils from Year 4 to Year 6, 128 have since switched to international schools.

Ng felt that the transfer may impact pupils in terms of growth and mentality as they do not complete the primary school education.

An education activist sees that such a trend is not good for Chinese primary schools and independent Chinese schools, as the number of pupils completing six years of Chinese primary school education will decline while independent Chinese schools face stiff competition from international schools.