PUTRAJAYA: There has been a jump in the number of As obtained in Mathematics, Science and Tamil (Comprehension) in the Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) 2009 results.

Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said Mathematics (in both national and vernacular schools) had the highest increase in the number of As obtained at 4.2% followed by Tamil (Comprehension) at 3.6% and Science at 2.2% out of the 12 subjects offered in the UPSR.

"There was no significant drop in the other subjects," he said when announcing the analysis of the UPSR results at the ministry yesterday.

Alimuddin said more Year Six pupils obtained As in all their subjects in this year's UPSR compared to the previous year.

A total of 48,171 obtained all As this year compared to 46,641 in 2008.

He said the number of pupils who obtained good results (with a minimum C) also increased from 46,641 in 2008 to 48,171 this year while there was a decline in those who obtained all Es from 3,363 in 2008 to 3,266 this year.

He said the emphasis for the UPSR 2009 results was on the overall achievements of pupils and their subject performance.

"The ministry is not naming any best schools as we want to avoid an over-emphasis on examination results," he said.

The Average National Grade (GPN), he added, was used to measure the overall achievements of pupils while the Average Subject Grade (GPMP) gauged subject performance.

On the achievements of pupils in urban and rural areas, Alimuddin said there was an overall improvement.

He said a total of 31, 360 obtained all As in urban areas compared to 16,380 in rural areas.

"The comparison with this year's and last year's results show that the gap is narrowing," he added.

Alimuddin said of the 1,086 pupils with special needs who sat for the UPSR, 13 scored all As and 177 obtained a minimum of Cs.