I never took the UPSR and I turned out just fine

When I was growing up, there was never any stress put on me to perform well in my exams by my parents, or anyone else for that matter.

Education and the process of learning were important and that was always instilled and drilled into my brothers and me, but exam results were never a priority.

I remember my parents going to my school on report card day and my father asking the teacher, “forget about the lessons, how does he interact with his classmates and teachers?”

Of course, they always congratulated me when I achieved good results, but they never dwelled on it if I ever didn’t do as well. And this was in primary school.

Then, in secondary school, when two major exams, the PMR and SPM, were happening, my father even made us go out and watch movies or go bowling as the exams got nearer.

The lesson my father wanted to teach my brothers and me is that exams are not important because all it does is test you for what you remember (as far as Malaysian exams go).

What is important is the fact that we actually go through the learning process sincerely and enjoy the experience and that we feel enriched because of it.

When you learn and study just because you want to get good exam results, then you have gone astray somewhere along the way.

Today, it makes me sad to see how even at the lowest level of all national examinations, the UPSR, can experience a leak and now pupils have to resit several papers.

This shows that there are people who are so desperate that they are willing to cheat and get leaked papers so they (or their parents? or teachers?) can score in the exams.

Why is this so? Is it because the way Malaysia prioritises exam results so much that it can determine the success and happiness of one’s future life?

You see, if a 12-year-old in this country’s education system doesn’t get straight As in her UPSR, she will not be able to go to a good secondary school.

Then, if she doesn’t get into a good secondary school, she will get such a bad education that she will also not get good PMR examination results when she is 15.

And when she doesn’t get good PMR results, she will not be able to get into the education stream that is most desired (by whom?) for her upper secondary schooling.

And when she turns 17, she will definitely fail her SPM examination and then not get into university. This will eventually lead to her sudden death.

Allow me to let you in on a secret. I have never taken the UPSR examinations. And, shockingly, it has never had any adverse effects on my life… so far.

(I'm sure now everyone is going to question me as to why I never sat for my UPSR. Well, let that be one of the world's most obsessed over enigma!)

Today, I have built a career I’m proud of and have a family I love. Oh, and on the academic side, I even have a postgraduate degree and lecture at the undergraduate level.

So why is it that the UPSR examination is so important that it trumps the true reason we want to chase for an education, huh? – September 12, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.