Guide SPM career choices

With the 2026 SPM written papers beginning on Nov 23, students are understandably focused on revision, exam results and their families’ hopes. But when the papers are over, another important question awaits: what should I study next?

Too often, that decision is shaped by grades, family expectations, friends or the courses promoted at education fairs.

Malaysia already has a useful starting point. Under the Education Ministry’s school-based assessment framework, students complete career-interest inventories in Forms 1, 3 and 5, alongside other psychometric assessments at different stages. The question is whether students receive enough meaningful guidance after the assessment.

A career-interest code or a computer-generated list of occupations should start a conversation, not settle a decision. Consider a student who enjoys calculations. We need to understand what the student enjoys: organising financial information, solving technical problems, identifying patterns or designing systems. We also need to consider academic readiness, other strengths, personal values and the realities of each pathway.

A proper follow-up session should help students understand what their results mean, discuss findings that do not seem to fit, compare several educational routes, and identify subjects and entry requirements to investigate.

College admissions teams and university career services play valuable roles, but guidance should not begin only when students are choosing an institution or preparing for employment.

The excitement surrounding artificial intelligence makes this even more important. An AI-related programme may suit some students, but choosing a course solely because it is fashionable today is risky. Strong foundations, transferable skills and the ability to upskill and reskill will remain essential.

We should not burden SPM candidates with another major decision while they are preparing for examinations. Instead, schools and parents can plan thoughtful post-SPM guidance conversations before applications, deadlines and promotional messages take over.

As we wish our SPM candidates success, let us remember that examination results can open doors, but meaningful career guidance helps students decide which doors are worth exploring.

DR PRASHUN KUMAR CHOUDHURY

Education and career development practitioner