A Framework of Teachers’ Concern about School Based Assessment of Science Practical Work (PEKA)

Abstract

Science Practical Work Assessment (Pentaksiran Kerja Amali Sains - PEKA) had been incorporated into three upper secondary school level science subjects, namely Chemistry, Physics and Biology; to replace the external examination of practical work - Science Practical Examination in Form Five. This change obviously has placed the school science teachers with more challenging role and new responsibilities, that is, the dual roles of educator and assessor. While this implementation is in line with the principle of reliable, valid and holistic assessment, any efforts to improve a more effective implementation should be based on detail investigation and comprehensive analysis on the effects of current practice of PEKA program in schools, especially the teachers’ concerns in implementing the PEKA program. Thus, this paper aims to discuss the teachers’ key concern about the implementation of PEKA program based on Cheung and Yip’s five stages of concern about school based assessment which was originally developed by Hall.