Cambridge-Backed Assessment to Raise English Proficiency in Sarawak Schools
Sarawak will roll out a standardised Ujian Penilaian-Dual Language Programme (UP-DLP) assessment for Year 6 students this October, a move designed to strengthen English proficiency and align local education with global standards.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the initiative recently during a ceremony in London, where a formal agreement was signed between the Sarawak government—via the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD)—and Cambridge University Press and Assessment (CUP&A).
The UP-DLP assessment will cover science, mathematics, and English, with examination papers verified and vetted by CUP&A to ensure they meet international benchmarks. Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak has been appointed to administer the assessment.
“This initiative is not just about language; it’s about equipping our students with internationally recognised qualifications,” said Abang Johari. “We want to prepare them for a world where English fluency and academic excellence open doors globally.”
The Premier also emphasised that the programme would not undermine the role of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language. He recalled a time when Sarawak students sat for the Senior Cambridge Certificate (SC) and Higher School Certificate (HSC), which were once the gold standard of education in the state.
“Many of today’s successful Sarawakians are products of the SC and HSC era,” he said, pointing to the historical roots of Cambridge-linked education in Sarawak.
At the signing ceremony, CUP&A was represented by Jane Mann, Managing Director of Partnerships for Education, while MEITD was represented by Professor George Ngui, CEO of Swinburne Innovation Malaysia.
