IPOH: A total of 2,027 students in Perak did not sit for the SPM examination this year, says Khairudin Abu Hanipah (pic).
The state education, higher education, youth and sports committee chairman said a total of 27,943 had registered for the 2024 SPM examinations in the state.
“From that number, a total of 2,027 did not sit for the examination,” he said when replying to a supplementary question by Mohamad Amin Roslan (PN-Pengkalan Hulu) during the Perak state assembly sitting Thursday (April 17).
Khairudin added that among the reasons why these students failed to sit for the examinations include family issues, some started working, health problems, deceased students, those involved in accidents, some moved overseas, and some in custody.
He said that according to district, Kinta Utara had the highest number of students who failed to sit for the examination, followed by Larut, Matang and Selama, and the third on the list is Manjung, followed by the rest of the districts.
“The Perak Education Department is taking various efforts with the aim of reducing the absentee number for SPM 2025, through several support programmes.
“Early intervention programmes include counselling sessions, home visits, and targeted support programmes.
“These programmes are carried out systematically and strategically, while also encouraging close collaboration with the local community and grassroots leadership to provide moral support and ensure that these students remain in school,” he added.
He said the state government was also taking additional initiatives for students who are academically underperforming or have dropped out by providing alternative education pathways.
“The initiatives include Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), skills training aligned with the students' interests and potential, and career exposure programmes,” he added.
Besides that student leadership development programmes, and education assistance distribution to ease financial burden is also being carried out.
He said the state government was taking such issues seriously, and would continue to ensure that all students in Perak have access to proper education without any hindrance.
