Hi Parents,

When is the new academic year 2023/2024
Group A schools = 19 March 2023 - 9 March 2024 (Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor)
Group B schools = 20 March 2023 - 10 March 2024 (all other states)

Why is school starting a week later in March 2023?
The new start dates have been pushed forward to a week later from the original dates of 12 or 13 March  2023. This is to facilitate the smooth running of SPM which will be held from 30 January 2023 to 15 March 2023. Secondary school students are usually given off days during SPM to ensure silence, many classrooms could be used as exam halls as well. Therefore to make sure there is no start stop situation, the start dates of school have been pushed to a week later ie 19 March 2023 (Group A) or 20 March 2023 (Group B) for everyone.

When is the academic year-end holiday?
Group A Schools = 17 Feb 2023 - 18 March 2023
Group B Schools = 18 Feb 2023 - 19 March 2023

Is 25 January 2023 a special Chinese New Year Holiday?
In both Group A & Group B schools = 20 - 24 Jan 2023 has been allocated as CNY school holidays. However, in any given academic year, schools are given autonomy to apply for special holidays up to 4 days per academic year. Any special holiday is therefore school specific. Your child's school will issue a notice to all parents if there are any special holidays for your school for Chinese New Year.

Resumption of academic year to January, UPSR and PT3
The Moe has said in a press statement that the resumption of the academic year to January, and the reintroduction of UPSR and PT3 are still being studied.

For now students will sit for the UASA (Ujian Akhir Sesi Akademik)
Students will sit for the UASA (Ujian Akhir Sesi Akademik) for the first time in January 2023/February 2023. The UASA was introduced to strengthen the School-based Assessment or PBS (Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah). Unlike UPSR or PT3, the UASA is not a centralized exam. However, MoE will prepare a question bank that schools will use to generate the exam paper for UASA.Schools have the autonomy to choose their own dates within a given time frame.

Who will sit for the UASA?
Upper Primary Std 4, 5, 6 and Lower Secondary Form 1, 2, 3.
For primary school, MOE will prepare the question bank for 5 subjects ie. BM, Bahasa Inggeris, Matematik, Sains and Sejarah. Each paper is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Schools will manage other papers. For secondary schools, MOE will prepare the question bank for 20 subjects. Schools will select those they are offering from the 20.

Affected parents can refer to the following links from Lembaga Peperiksaan to find out more about the UASA including the paper formats ie the type of questions, time given and marks.

- Administrative Guidelines for UASA
- Assessment instrument format for Std 4, 5 & 6
- Assessment instrument format for Form 1, 2 & 3
- Introduction to the UASA by Lembaga Peperiksaan (Video)

Do you think UPSR and PT3 should be reintroduced?
Take our poll here and see how other parents voted.
UPRS poll
PT3 poll

Before we wrap up this email. we would like to point you to a link on the FAQs regarding the BAP (Bantuan Awal Persekolahan) of RM150 which will be disbursed starting from 12 January 2023. Are you entitled and how will you receive this cash aid? Check it out here.

Until next time,

Koay Joo Bee
Admin
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