KUALA LUMPUR: Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has reminded everyone to wait until the end of the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams before drawing conclusions about students missing the 2024 SPM Bahasa Melayu paper on Jan 3.
She said the current figures are preliminary and have been sensationalised even though the examination is not yet over.
Last month, Fadhlina mentioned there were still around 10,000 students whose attendance had yet to be confirmed.
"Therefore, please give us time until the end of SPM on February 6 to conclude and ensure all processes related to student attendance are accurately assessed for a more precise conclusion," she said during the mock cheque presentation ceremony for the one-off Early Schooling Aid (BAP) on Monday (Jan 13).
Fadhlina added that efforts to ensure student attendance for the SPM exams have been ongoing throughout the year, not just during the SPM period.
She said the Bill to amend the Education Act 1996 to make education compulsory up to secondary school level is expected to be tabled next month.
“We hope that these measures will help overcome attendance-related issues, reduce dropout rates, and improve the overall quality of education in the country,” she said.
During the mock cheque presentation, Fadhlina handed over a cheque of RM34,113,450 to the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Education Department (JPWPKL) for distribution to three district education offices (PPD), benefiting 227,423 students across Kuala Lumpur.
The distribution of BAP to all schools under the ministry’s purview was completed on Jan 10, with a total of RM723,165,300 allocated to benefit more than 4 million Year 1 to Form 4 students nationwide.
The BAP aid of RM150 will be distributed starting Monday (January 13) for students from Year 1 to Form 4 in the 2024/2025 school session.
Year 1 pupils (from the 2025/2026 session) and Form 6 students in their second semester will receive their aid on Feb 16.
New Form 6 students will begin receiving aid on July 1.
