FAMILY issues, accidents and illnesses were among the reasons for some 10,000 students’ absences during the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia 2023 examination, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
The ministry’s analysis, according to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, also showed that factors like candidates’ employment also contributed to these circumstances.
She explained that of the students who did not sit for the SPM, 8,676 were from public schools, while 1,263 were private candidates.
“Another 221 candidates were from other categories, such as government agencies, state religious secondary schools, and private schools,” she said in a written reply to Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam).
Dr Wee had asked the Education Minister to explain the absence of 10,160 candidates for the SPM 2023 examination and the intervention steps the Ministry would undertake to address this issue.
Fadhlina said 383,685 new candidates had registered for at least six subjects for SPM 2023.
Out of this number, 10,160, or 2.6%, were absent for the exams.
“This marks a decline, compared to the 14,858 or 3.8% of candidates (who were absent) in 2022,” she said.
Fadhlina said the ministry has outlined four interventions to improve school attendance and presence at the SPM exams.
These include improving school guidance and counselling services through student development programmes, as well as calling on state and district education offices to be vigilant about attendance patterns.
