Some of the top students with the certificates of appreciation they received from Chow (wearing red tie). — Buletin Mutiara.
THE Penang government handed out awards to 313 students who were among the top scorers in the 2021 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
Out of the number, 82 were STPM and 231 were SPM high achievers.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman presented certificates of appreciation to the STPM and SPM students respectively at G Hotel in Gurney Drive.
Chow said cash incentives amounting to RM232,000 would be paid to the top scorers as well as the top schools through electronic fund transfer.
“This initiative is a small recognition by the state government for the excellent achievements of Penang students who are diligent and have worked hard.
“To the parents, guardians and teachers involved, you are the central pillar of the success of these children.
“Despite the difficulties faced by students, teachers and parents in going through these difficult times, including the Covid-19 situation, the state government is proud that every year we can witness an improvement,” Chow said in his speech as reported by Buletin Mutiara.
Chow added that for STPM achievements in 2021, Penang recorded a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.85, surpassing the national CGPA (2.79) and also higher than the CGPA in 2020 (2.83).
For last year’s SPM, Chow said 15,520 out of 20,048 candidates or 86.03% passed the examination and received certificates.
They included 231 students scoring 7A+ and above.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy, who is also in charge of the education portfolio, said Penang students had always recorded good results in the SPM and STPM examinations every year.
“I would like to wish all the achievers the best in their further education and hope they achieve their ambitions,” Ramasamy said.
He said each of the 231 SPM high achievers would receive RM500 while each of the 82 STPM high achievers would receive RM1,000 cash incentive.
In addition to these awards, there were also awards given out to the best students by race and a ‘special’ best student.
Ramasamy added that as many as 22 schools in Penang obtained 100% passes in SPM and 11 schools obtained 100% passes in STPM, hence their students were eligible to receive their certificates.
Another great achievement he said was that out of 2,049 students who sat for the STPM last year, 2,048 passed and were eligible to receive their STPM certificate.
It was also a memorable celebration for SMK Agama (P) Al-Mashoor for emerging as the Best STPM school and SMK Bukit Jambul for emerging as the Best SPM school for 2021.
Both schools were rewarded with a cash incentive of RM6,000 each.
Also present were state executive councillors Chong Eng and Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain, deputy State Secretary Datuk Ahmad Rizal Hussain (management) and Penang Education Department deputy director of the learning sector Roland @ Rozaidi Abu Hassan.
