Bayview Beach Resort, Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang, Malaysia

27-30 September 1999

Grade Skipping: Lessons From A School

Vincent Pang

School of Education and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

Abstract

Grade skipping was introduced in Malaysia in 1996 through the Stage One Assessment (PTS). The rational is to create a faster channel for ësmarterí kids. Much have been debated about whether children should make the skip or otherwise and the effects of skipping. This case study was conducted to address these concerns, with the hope to bring about better understanding of issues surrounding grade skipping in a primary school.

The study centred on 18 ësmart kidsí who were promoted to Year Five in 1998 after they had passed PTS in Year Three. A questionnaire was administered to parents of the kids, to gauze their perceptions on three aspects: decision making, effects of skipping on children and efforts to support the skip. An emotional intelligence test and a mindbenders test were administered on the children and other groups for comparison. Interviews were conducted with the outgoing and incoming headteachers, senior teachers and a few parents of the children.

The study concluded that there was no significant difference between the scores of the group and others in both emotional intelligence test as well as mindbender test. The parents involved have seen the positive and negative effects on the skip and are making efforts to help their children to cope with the change.