STPM 2015: Improved showing by rural candidates

PUTRAJAYA: Rural STPM candidates are catching up with their urban counterparts when it comes to CGPA scores.

Malaysian Examination Council (MPM) president Prof Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak (pic) said that although there was an overall increase in the cumulative grade point average (CGPA) nationwide, rural candidates showed a big jump of 0.07 points.

For Sijil Tinggi Pendidikan Malaysia (STPM) 2015, the CGPA for rural candidates was 2.61 while urban candidates scored 2.67.

In 2014, it was 2.54 and 2.64 respectively.

"The gap between urban and rural candidates is becoming smaller compared to previous years," he told reporters during the STPM 2015 results analysis press conference on Wednesday.

Prof Mohamed Mustafa, who is also vice-chancellor of Universiti Utara Malaysia said MPM is pleased with the results increase.

"If this continues, it is estimated that there won't be any difference between urban and rural candidates in future STPM examinations," he added.

He also said that the national CGPA had increased from 2.62 in 2014 to 2.65 in 2015.

"The percentage of candidates obtaining a CGPA of 4.00 in STPM 2015 has slightly dropped by 0.11%," he said, adding that it was 0.91% or 390 candidates in 2014 to 0.80% or 335 candidates in 2015.

However, he expected the percentage to increase when candidates resit the papers in Semester Three.

He also said that the percentage of candidates scoring a CGPA of 3.50 and above increased to 11.22% (4,711 candidates) in 2015 compared to 10% (4,285 candidates) in 2014.

"There was an increase in those scoring a CGPA of 3.00 and above, 2.50 and above, 2.00 and above, and those who passed all five or four subjects," he continued.

He said the improved CGPA scores gave students a better chance to enter local and foreign universities.

Prof Mohamed Mustafa also said that the improved scores of government school candidates show that the Form Six Transformation carried out by the Education Ministry is working.

"Because more candidates achieved a CGPA of 2.50 or more," he added.

Prof Mohamed Mustafa said a total of 45,515 candidates registered for STPM 2015.