KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA: The Education Ministry will investigate allegations that a primary school principal did not allow at least two students to sit the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination for fear that it will bring the school's overall performance down.

Its minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said that if the allegations were true, it was against the basic premise of the ministry to provide education for everyone and the person involved would face the consequences.

"We have a normal channel to deal with such allegations – we have committees on safety, health and cleanliness and another on discipline.

"They have procedures in place to ensure these investigations are done fairly."

The New Straits Times reported last week that two children, now 15 years old, were prevented from taking their UPSR three years ago.

The parents submitted a report to the state education department claiming the principal had called them, and four others, into his room and told them that their children were too weak in their studies to sit for the exam.

As a result, both children face difficulties in school, suffer from low self-esteem, have no interest in studying, and one of them dropped out 21/2 years ago.

Hishammuddin said that the current school system often placed too much emphasis on exams and the cabinet was discussing a reform of the system.

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