PENANG schools have performed better in the STPM examinations last year with the passing rate for students scoring between one principal and five principals at 97.02% compared to the national average of 93.96%.
State Education Department deputy director Dr Sharifah Bee Aboo Bakar said the joint effort of the teachers had contributed to the academic achievements of the students last year.
She said that in 2010, a total of 2,494 students sat for the exams where 96.67% of them scored between one principal and five principals and it was 2,409 students in 2009 with 96.75% obtaining between one and five principals.
“A total of 3,062 students sat for the exam last year and 2,523 students were from the government schools with another 345 from private schools and 194 were private candidates,’’ she said at a press conference held at SMJK Jit Sin in Sungai Rambai near Bukit Mertajam yesterday.
Also present were the school’s principal Tan Kim Tong.
Dr Sharifah said Teoh Han Kheng from SMJK Chung Ling, George Town, was the top student in the state by scoring 5As while Ng Sau Cheng from SMK St. Xavier came in second with 4As and 1A-.
She also commended SMJK Jit Sin for achieving 100% passes in all the subjects with 32 students scoring 4As, of which 10 scored 4 straight As in the exams.
Tan said this was the proudest moment for the school and the result was due to the team effort from her teachers.
“The teachers worked so hard. They sacrificed their precious time to attain excellent results. The students have also cooperated with the teachers for this great achievement,” she said.
Lim Fann Tyng, 20, one of the 10 students who scored 4 straight As in the exams, said she was happy and excited over the results.
“The exams were quite tough. I scored 4As in the trial exams but I never thought I will get 4As in the real exams. I seriously studied two weeks before the exams,” she said.
“Since today is International Women’s Day, I would like to dedicate my results to my mother who has sacrificed so much for me. She would stay up late until I finished my studies before going to bed. She is my greatest role model,” she said.
Tan Xiao Shuang, 20, who also obtained 4 straight As, was happy but surprised.
“I expected 2As and 2A- in the real exams. Anyway, the results will motivate me to go further with my future plans. I wish be an accountant and I will apply to the local universities for a place,” she said.
