Family issues among key reasons for SPM absentees, says Fadhlina

KUALA LUMPUR: Family issues, accidents, and illnesses have been identified as some of the main reasons for students' absence during the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) exams in 2023.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek noted that the ministry's analysis also found that factors such as candidates working contributed to these circumstances.

She explained that of the students who did not sit for the SPM, 8,676 were candidates from Education Ministry (KPM) schools, while 1,263 were private candidates.

"Another 221 were from other categories, including schools under government agencies, state religious secondary schools, people's religious secondary schools, and private schools.

"For the 2023 SPM examinations, a total of 383,685 new candidates registered for at least six subjects, and out of this number, 10,160 or 2.6% were absent for the exams.

"This marks a decrease of 4,698 individuals or 1.2% compared to 14,858 or 3.8% of candidates in 2022," she said in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat.

She was responding to questions regarding the absence of candidates for the SPM 2023 posed by Ayer Itam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

Dr Wee requested the Education Minister to explain the absence of 10,160 candidates for the 2023 SPM examination, and what comprehensive intervention steps the Ministry will undertake to address this issue.

In addition, Fadhlina mentioned that the KPM has outlined four interventions to improve school attendance and presence at the SPM exams. These include optimising school guidance and counselling services through student development programmes.

She said the "Circular KPM No. 1 of 2019: Guidelines for Managing Attendance Record Systems in KPM Schools," was issued to reinforce the monitoring of school attendance records.

Fadhlina also urged state and district education offices to monitor attendance patterns closely while harnessing the expertise of educational professionals in guidance and counselling to disseminate pertinent knowledge and experience in these domains.