No discrepancy in the number of students who didn't sit for SPM, says deputy minister

15 Jun 2023 04:23pm

Left Picture: Hui Ying. Rigt Picture: Radzi claimed that the Prime Minister's statement about more than 30,000 students did not sit for SPM in 2022 had contradicted the previously reported number by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

KUALA LUMPUR - The Education Ministry confirms that about 30,000 students did not sit for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) in 2022, including candidates who were registered to sit for one paper in the national examination.

Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying said a total of 29,663 out of 388,832 candidates did not sit for the exam last year.

"There is no contradiction in the figures mentioned by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim because he listed the total number of those who did not take the exam, including the candidates who registered for only one subject.

"What the former education minister (Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin) stated was that there are only 14,858 candidates, or 3.8 per cent of candidates who didn't sit for the exam, which is the number of candidates registered to take six subjects, including private candidates," she told Dewan Rakyat today.

She said this in response to an additional question from Roslan Hashim (PN-Kulim-Bandar Baharu), who asked about discrepancies in the number of students who sat for SPM 2022 listed by Anwar and Radzi.

Radzi, who is also the Putrajaya MP, was previously reported as saying that the Prime Minister's statement about more than 30,000 students who did not sit for SPM in 2022 contradicted the numbers previously reported by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

In the meantime, Lim said the ministry is working to improve technology and digital-based learning and teaching to meet future education needs.

She also explained that teachers will continue to receive aid with the provision of 50,000 laptops to schools and educational institutions to support their role in educating students.

"Additionally, teachers are also given continuous training and guidance in supporting the implementation of the current education policy, including improving knowledge and skills in the digitalization aspect of education to face the 21st century.

"Based on statistics in the Training Management System of the Education Ministry (SPLKPM) until May 31, 2023, a total of 1,789 digital or ICT-related trainings have been implemented," she said.