The SPM exams are regarded as one of the most crucial moments in a Malaysian student’s life. This national exam, specifically for school leavers aged 17, will be the determinant of their future in college as well as their entries into chosen college majors and future career fields.
So, it did come as a shock to many when the BERNAMA news outlet disclosed that over 10,000 high school leavers had decided to abandon their SPM exams in 2023.
It further details information from the Education director-general, Tuan Haji Azman Adnan, who had stated that out of the 383,685 registered for the exam, only 373,525 of them actually attended the exams for the school 2023 school year. Of that, only 93.5% managed to secure an SPM leaving certificate.
The previous year, the Ministry of Education recorded a staggering 30,000 students who had decided to skip out on their SPM exams. Only 10,000 of them later decided to sit for a re-examination in the school year of 2023, as reported by Minster of Education Fadhlina Sidek.
This shocking finding also led Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to order a thorough investigation on the issue to avoid repeats of such worrying numbers in the future of Malaysian Education.
According to the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) Chairman, Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, schooling youngsters are becoming enamored with the perceived “easy life” of social media influencers. Most are swayed by the potential “big earnings” they can achieve as an influencer, without having to “study as hard”.
“Students have been viewing the influencer life as a shortcut to earning big, without a need to obtain educational certificates or qualifications. A portion of them also believe that being a delivery rider also brings in big bucks without the usual educational requirements and certification”, she clarified.
Despite considering the act “a significant loss” to these students, she also encourages them to seek further training to develop their skill sets or pursue an alternative path to learning – like with an internship or apprenticeship.
“Many without SPM certification now regret their decision after seeing a stagnancy in career advancement options. Of course, that also comes with a significant salary gap, which can be quite stifling for youngsters looking to set themselves up for a secure future. It’s simply the harsh reality of things.”, she adds.
Echoing her views, Dr. Abdul Razak Zakaria, Chairman of the Universiti Malaya Centre for Family Research and Development stated that many youths today are indifferent to the concept of future planning, owing to their belief that education does not guarantee a steady income in the future.
“Many youngsters these days take social media as an almanac and staunchly believe their current lives are adequate. They no longer see the need for education and further studies as a tool to advance themselves along a career path or achieve better earnings.”, he says.
In September of 2023, a doctor and guest speaker went viral for disclosing the startling aspirations of a group of Form Three students of a local secondary school in Ampang. When asked what they would like to be when they leave school, a majority answered “Tik Tok influencers” or “Youtuber”, which she’d chided as being “not real jobs”.
In addition to that, lots of local secondary school students have expressed their struggle with the immense pressure and stress that comes with their preparations for the SPM examinations. Students are prepared for this exam right from the Form Four benches all the way up to the actual exam. They face endless tests and exams, as well as multiple mock paper exams throughout the school year, which can cause high anxiety levels while they tussle with the actual syllabus.
A handful have also reported a choice to drop out solely due to their high failing rates since primary school benches. These students find it difficult to stay engaged in classes and hit snags when they try to catch up to their peers. Such students also find themselves being berated by both teachers and parents, further adding to the pressure they face.
Economic strain also seems to be a driving factor for these youths to leave behind their national exams. Many students leave high school early to take on jobs at fast food outlets, become dispatch and delivery personnel, or seek odd jobs to help their families make ends meet. This pattern is prevalent in low-income areas, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
The National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Fauzi Singon urged the Ministry of Education (MOE) to proffer comprehensive data on the prevalent absenteeism amongst students registered for the SPM examinations, for fear of it being irresponsibly exploited for political purposes in the future.
