Perak aims to reduce SPM dropout rate even further

IPOH: The number of SPM dropouts in Perak last year was 1,106, or only 3.4% of the total number of Form Five students, but the state authorities want to bring this amount down even further.

State Education committee chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah said the Perak Education department is currently developing solutions to decrease the SPM dropout rate and ensure that all Form Five students sit for this critical exam.

Khairudin had on June 18 said that 1,106 out of 32,735 candidates in Perak did not sit for the SPM last year.

He added that allowing dropouts to retake the paper was only marginally effective.

“It is still primarily up to these students whether they would be interested in doing so or not. The government has never stopped or closed the door on anyone, as we do not want anyone to be left behind,” he said.

“There are even technical and vocational programmes they can attend, but unless the dropouts have awareness, interest and motivation to change, there is only so much we can do,” he told reporters after launching a 3R (Read, Record, Reward) programme at the Dato’ Seri Husni Public Library in Chemor near here yesterday.

According to Khairudin, one of the primary reasons these youths dropped out of SPM was because they had secured employment.

“Some have found work, such as being a delivery rider.

“But if they were to lose their jobs, they would be lost. Without the SPM certificate, it is harder for them to get rehired,” he added.

Others said they lost interest in their studies, Khairudin added.

Separately, Khairudin said early retirement applications by teachers should be evaluated first before being approved, as it could worsen the shortage of educators in schools nationwide.

While he did not have statistics at hand, Khairudin said it was understood that in Perak, teachers applying for early retirement outnumbered those who had to go on compulsory retirement.

“Some may feel they no longer have financial burdens as their children are already working, while some may need to care for an ailing spouse or aged parents.

“There are also some who cannot cope with newer, more dynamic teaching methods and others may not be comfortable using new technology and can no longer contribute,” Khairudin said, adding, “Some also cited that they were no longer interested in the profession.”