KUALA LUMPUR – The Education Ministry has refuted claims that the grading for the 2022 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination was lowered.
Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that the rating of scores must be according to merit and the standards that have been adopted before.
“We have our standards and they have been maintained... the grading system must be fair,” she told reporters at the closing of the Malay Language Empowerment Programme for Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese (SJKC) and Tamil (SJKT) Schools today.
Recently, an analysis on the 2022 SPM examination results was shared widely on social media which attracted public attention, and netizens had highlighted the shortcomings of the educational system with some arguing over the exam’s grading.
In another development, when asked whether the ministry plans to include more compulsory SPM subjects in addition to Bahasa Malaysia and history, Fadhlina said for now, only the two subjects would be maintained.
“The two subjects will be maintained as they have recorded an improved performance in the recent SPM examination, the candidates did extremely well in history.
“This shows that the students had no problem learning history, maybe we just need aggressive intervention especially in empowering Bahasa Malaysia and history,” she said
Meanwhile, she said the level of Bahasa Malaysia proficiency at SJKC and SJKT schools saw a significant improvement in the latest SPM results and it is hoped that this would be further improved.
On Sarawak education minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn’s claim that Fadhlina had refused to have a meeting with him to discuss the development of education in the state, she said the date of the meeting has been fixed for July 14. – Bernama, June 20, 2023
