January
> SPM 2024
The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2024 written exams began on Jan 2 amid floods in Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Johor, Perlis and Kedah. A total of 402,956 candidates registered at 3,337 exam centres nationwide.
> Global Teacher Prize
Known for his programme that taught pupils filmmaking, marketing and financial literacy skills, Muhammad Nazmi Rosli, the Malaysia Teacher Prize 2023 winner from SK Long Sebangang, Sarawak, was named among the Top 10 finalists of the prestigious 2025 Global Teacher Prize.
February
> School starts
Some five million students nationwide began their 2025/2026 school session, a move to transition back to the January academic cycle next year. The academic calendar had been disrupted since 2021/2022 due to changes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
> Freedom of the City of London
Trainee solicitor Choi Ching Jack, 25, received the Freedom of the City of London award at the Chamberlain’s Court in Guildhall. The award recognised his voluntary contributions to the Malaysian diaspora through organisations such as the British Malaysian Society and the Malaysian Lawyers UK Network.
March
> Appointments
Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim was appointed to the same post at the Education Ministry, taking over from Datuk Ruji Ubi.
Public Service Department deputy director-general (Development) Datuk Dr Anesee Ibrahim was named Higher Education secretary-general, replacing Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang, who retired and was subsequently made Malaysian Qualifications Agency chairman.
(From left) Gooi You He, Airin Husna and Amrita Shri showing their Jalur Gemilang badges before pinning them on their school uniforms outside a secondary school.
April
> Jalur Gemilang badge
All students at educational institutions under the Education Ministry received free Jalur Gemilang badges to be worn on their uniforms. The initiative aims to instil patriotism and a love for the country among students and educators.
> Harvard bound
Yayasan UEM scholar Athena Siow and PNB Global Scholar Namira Lee Tzu earned admission to Harvard College’s Class of 2029, joining one of the world’s most selective undergraduate programmes.
> SPM results
There were fewer absentees for SPM 2024 compared to the previous year, the number dropping from 8,676 in 2023 to 6,246. Those scoring all As rose to 14,179 (3.7%), up from 11,713 (3.1%) in 2023. Additionally, 136,791 candidates (36.1%) obtained at least a pass (minimum grade E) in all subjects taken, an increase from 35.2% in 2023.
May
> School for student addicts
Opened in December last year, the country’s first school dedicated to addressing learning loss among young drug users introduced technical and vocational education and training (TVET) courses for students undergoing rehabilitation. The National Anti-Drugs Agency learning facility in Karangan, Kedah, began offering welding, aircon repair and sewing modules by the National Youth Advance Skills Training Institute and GiatMARA Nibong Tebal, alongside formal classes.
> Uncertainty over enrolment
Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) stopped sending its students for further studies in the United States starting this year, in view of policy uncertainties. The US administration had ordered the suspension of student visa processing, slashing funding and curbing international enrolment.
> Social media circular
The Education Ministry issued a circular prohibiting teachers from making inappropriate social media posts. Educators were advised to use social media responsibly and ethically, and were barred from circulating provocative, false or sensitive content. The circular also addressed dress codes, stating that teachers must not wear revealing or “figure-hugging” outfits.
> A- accepted
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong criticised the Education Ministry for no longer recognising A- as equivalent to an A for matriculation entry. The Ayer Hitam MP said students had prepared based on last year’s criteria, only to find the goalposts shifted – a move he described as unfair. The Cabinet later decided that all students with 10As and above, including A-, would be given a place if they apply for matriculation, regardless of race or background.
June
> STPM results
The number of candidates scoring a 4.00 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) 2024 exams saw a significant increase. Overall, 1,266 (3.06%) achieved a perfect 4.00 CGPA, the highest ever. The number of candidates who scored As in all five subjects also increased, from 41 in 2023 to 53 this year.
July
> New DG
Education deputy director-general (Professionalism Development Sector) Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad was appointed director-general. He replaced Datuk Azman Adnan, who went on mandatory retirement.
> Bringing space to class
Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) director-general Datuk Azlikamil Napiah announced that a new syllabus, in which students will soon learn about space, is set to be implemented in phases starting 2027. MYSA is among the key panel members appointed by the Education Ministry to co-develop the syllabus, which incorporates space science, technology and applications into the Science subject.
> Fires and floods
Plans to address disasters and emergencies were being expedited in view of the northeast monsoon causing damage to more schools now than before, the Education Ministry said. A total of 778 educational institutions were affected by floods nationwide when the monsoon struck between November last year and March this year.
August
> Inquest set
Five teenagers were charged in the Kota Kinabalu Juvenile Court under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code in relation to the bullying of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir. On Aug 12, the Attorney General’s Chambers decided to hold an inquest to determine the cause and circumstances of the death Zara Qairina, an SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha student. The 13-year-old died at Hospital Queen Elizabeth on July 17, after being found unconscious in a drain near the school dormitory in Papar.
> Punitive action for vaping
Teachers caught vaping or smoking within school premises may face punitive action, including being fined up to RM10,000 or jailed for up to two years. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek told Parliament her ministry was also in the process of amending the Education (Student Discipline) Regulations to include a ban on smoking, which covers all forms of cigarettes, devices, electronic tools and liquids related to vape, in line with the enforcement of the Smoking Products Control Act for Public Health 2024.
> Guilty of murder
Thirteen teenage students of Kolej Vokasional Lahad Datu were found guilty of murdering their college mate Mohamad Nazmie Aizzat Mohd Narul Azwan last year. The boys, aged between 16 and 19, were convicted of killing the victim between 9pm on March 21 and 7.38am on March 22, 2024.
> Access for all
Heartbreak turned into joy for top scorer Lim Chin Hong. He finally secured a place to study electrical engineering at UM after months of rejection. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong had championed his case after he was turned down by many institutions of higher learning due to his physical condition, having part of his right leg amputated because of a tumour.
September
> Public varsity admissions
The results of applications for admission into public universities for the 2025/2026 academic session were announced. Admission to public universities is based on meritocracy, with 90% from academic achievement and 10% from co-curricular achievements, according to the Higher Education Ministry. Out of 1,255 STPM candidates with a CGPA of 4.00, 1,249 were offered places, with six more to be offered once the required documentation is completed. A total of 78,883 candidates from other qualification backgrounds have also secured university placements.
> ‘World’s Best School’
SK Putrajaya Presint 11(1) became the country’s first school to win the World’s Best School Prize 2025 for Supporting Healthy Lives. The school bagged US$50,000 (RM210,750) for its innovative HELPIE mobile health application, designed to improve students’ mental well-being by offering tools for stress identification and management, along with interactive games and health campaigns.
> Expelled and charged
Two of four 17-year-old SPM candidates faced three charges involving gang rape, committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature, and physical sexual assault against a Form Three student. She was reported to have been raped by two senior students, while two others were believed to have witnessed and recorded the crime in a classroom at a school in Alor Gajah, Melaka, on Sept 30.
October
> Budget 2026
The education sector received the largest allocation with RM66.2bil going to the Education Ministry and RM18.6bil to the Higher Education Ministry. The amount marked an increase from last year’s allocation of RM82.1bil.
> Student stabbed
Yap Shing Xuen sustained more than 200 stab wounds after being attacked in a toilet at SMK Bandar Utama 4, Selangor. The Form Three student’s 14-year-old schoolmate was charged with murder.
> Bullying cases up
Bullying cases in schools had increased sharply since 2022, said Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail. The Inspector-General of Police said that according to the Education Ministry’s Student Discipline Management System, a total of 3,883 bullying cases occurred in 2022. The number of cases showed a sharp spike in 2023, where 6,528 cases were recorded. Last year, the number of cases increased to 7,681 cases. More than 70% of reported incidents occurred in secondary schools.
> Safety reforms
Five major reforms to school safety nationwide, covering both physical and mental aspects, were underway, Fadhlina announced. The reforms include stricter enforcement of bans on dangerous items; enhanced student mental health and psychosocial support, including mental health screenings and strengthening programmes; implementation of comprehensive reproductive and social health education programmes; frequent spot checks and ongoing physical safety audit of all schools; greater psychosocial support systems for teachers; a review of standard operating procedures for bullying and sexual misconduct cases; increased CCTV installations; and more engagement sessions with students, parents, teachers and school administrators before child protection policies are implemented in schools.
> RM2.8bil campus in KL
Monash University Malaysia announced a partnership with Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) City to establish an RM2.8bil campus in the heart of the city, marking the university’s largest-ever international education investment.
> Top 10 varsities in Asean
Seven Malaysian universities made it into the top 10 list of Asean institutions in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS and Universiti Malaya emerged as joint top-ranked Malaysian universities after Singapore’s National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University.
> Archaeologist honoured
Universiti Sains Malaysia Emerita Prof Dr Siti Zuraina Abdul Majid was named the National Academic Figure at the 16th National Academic Awards – a recognition that marks another milestone for the nation’s first archaeologist. She took home a cash prize of RM200,000, a trophy and a certificate.
November
> SPM 2025 kicks off
SPM 2025, involving 413,372 candidates, started on Nov 3, and ended on Dec 23 at 3,350 exam centres nationwide. A total of 127,526 exam personnel were appointed to ensure smooth management and administration of the exams.
> New subject
A new subject, Integrated Learning: Nature and Humanity, will be introduced for Year One pupils under the 2027 school curriculum. It would replace the existing Science, Health Education, Visual Arts Education, and Music Education subjects. The Education Ministry said the new subject aims to integrate multiple disciplines, including science, health, music, visual arts, TVET and digital literacy. The subject would be taught through a co-teaching approach, where two teachers would conduct lessons together in the same classroom.
Siti Ainulmursyida
> Best teacher
Special education teacher Siti Ainulmursyida Shamsudin, from SMK Orkid Desa, Kuala Lumpur, was awarded the Malaysia Teacher Prize 2025, in a nationwide challenge that saw more than 2,300 teachers participating. She received RM50,000 for her efforts.
> Preference for private
More parents are sending their children to private schools, especially international schools, with enrolment hitting nearly 70,000 last year. According to figures from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, other types of private schools that also saw strong growth in popularity were special education schools and academic secondary schools. A total of 216,513 Malaysians were enrolled in all types of private schools in 2024, while the number of students at national schools was at 4.8 million.
> Ex-CJ receives honorary degree
The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws upon former Chief Justice of Malaysia Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat in recognition of her service and contributions. A Universiti Malaya (UM) alumna, Tengku Maimun made history as the first woman appointed as Chief Justice in the country. Presiding as chancellor at the university’s 65th convocation ceremony, Sultan Nazrin announced the appointment of Tan Sri Mohd Annuar Zaini as the pro-chancellor of UM.
December
> Second term for Zambry
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir was sworn in at the Dewan Negara to serve his second term as senator. His term will end on Dec 2, 2028.
> Above average
Malaysia sits comfortably above the regional average in the latest South-East Asia Primary Learning Metrics. The nation’s Year Five pupils scored an average of 314 points and 310 points in the Reading Literacy and Mathematics domains, respectively. Across South-East Asia, the average scores are 300 for Reading Literacy and 305 for Mathematics.
