ALOR STAR: The Education Ministry will investigate the failure of more than 14,000 or 3.8 per cent of candidates to sit for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination last year.
Its minister Fadhlina Sidek said there are various factors contributing to the statistic, and she assured that appropriate interventions will be made after a thorough investigation by the ministry.
"We will take necessary interventions to ensure improved attendance in the coming years.
"I believe there are multiple factors involved, and I am sure there must be urgent issues that are preventing the candidates from sitting for the exams.
"Hence, this requires thorough investigation. Give us time to examine the situation and we will implement the suitable interventions," she told reporters after visiting SMJK Keat Hwa here today.
Fadhlina assured the investigations into the matter would also consider the diverse range of backgrounds among the 2022 SPM candidates.
"Intervention will be based on thorough investigation since the candidate pool is quite diverse. They comprise not only candidates from schools under the purview of the ministry, but also private candidates.
"Therefore, we need to dissect this properly to determine the reasons behind this," she added.
Yesterday, a Malay daily reported that a total of 14,858 or 3.8 per cent out of the overall 388,832 candidates registered for at least six subjects for the 2022 SPM did not turn up for the examination.
According to an analysis by the Education Ministry, the number of absent candidates in 2022 increased as compared to 2021, when 10,681 or 2.7 per cent of candidates were absent out of the total of 392,837 registered candidates.
Meanwhile, Fadhlina said the number of SPM candidates who qualified to obtain their SPM certificate in 2022 has improved, surpassing a 90 per cent rate.
"Previously for SPM 2021, the percentage of candidates who obtained their SPM certificates was about 80 per cent, so there is an improvement here.
"Our focus now will be on how to improve that statistic in the future," she added.