PUTRAJAYA: A total of 10,160 students who registered for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2023 did not sit for the exams.
Education director-general Azman Adnan said that out of 383,685 newly registered candidates, only 373,525 attended and took at least one subject.
Azman said the high number of absentees needs to be addressed and examined in order to implement intervention measures.
"We will examine the reasons why these candidates did not attend (SPM 2023), especially after a significant drop (in the number of candidates registered for SPM 2023 compared to 2022).
"We will review each case and implement interventions to address this issue effectively," he said at a press conference announcing the analysis of the SPM 2023 results at the Education Ministry here today.
In 2022, 14,858 or 3.8 per cent of the 388,832 new candidates who registered for at least six subjects did not attend the exams.
Meanwhile, in 2021, 10,681 or 2.7 per cent of 392,837 registered candidates, did not attend the exams.
Azman added that the Education Ministry has never issued any directive prohibiting schools from organising appreciation ceremonies for SPM students.
He was commenting on the issue that went viral on social media, which alleged that the ministry had issued a directive not to allow such events to be organised as previously done.
"Actually, we did not ban appreciation ceremonies for SPM 2023. We just suggested that the ceremonies be held after the school holidays so that all candidates, parents, and teachers can participate, making the event more festive.
"In fact, today all candidates can go to school to access their results. Those who cannot attend can obtain their slips through the portal."
A total of 373,525 candidates sat for SPM 2023.
School candidates can obtain their SPM 2023 results from their respective schools starting at 10am today.
As for private candidates, the examination results will be sent by mail, or candidates can contact the state education department.