KUCHING: One of the reasons students skipped the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination had to do with them having to work to support their families.
State Education Department (JPNS) Director, Omar Mahli, said teachers had taken the initiative to visit the homes and workplaces of absent students to persuade them to sit for the exam.
“Although the schools make such interventions, the final decision still depends on the students themselves.
“If they refuse, there is nothing the school can do,” he said after visiting SK Jalan Haji Baki here today (Feb 17).
Health issues, Omar added, are also a contributing factor to students missing the SPM examination.
“For students who were unwell, we still provide an opportunity for them to sit for the SPM if they submit a reapplication,” he added.
In this regard, he urged parents to play a role in ensuring that their children attend school and sit for their exams.
“This effort is difficult to achieve if only teachers are trying without the support of parents,” he explained.
Recent news reports stated that a total of 8,076 SPM examination candidates were absent from all of their written papers, according to data recorded by the Education Ministry as of Feb 6.
Education Minister Fadlina Sidek said of this number, 6,231 were candidates from schools under the ministry.
She said the ministry takes the issue of absenteeism seriously in the SPM examination, with the annual candidate attendance analysis for the SPM exam being based on the ministry’s school candidates who registered for at least six subjects.
“Based on the analysis from the School Attendance Management Application during the examination, the main reasons for candidates’ absenteeism in the 2024 SPM examination include work, family problems, health issues, death, and moving abroad,” she said recently.
