Kota Kinabalu: Some 1,542 Sabah SPM students did not sit for the 2022 exam, according to Sabah Education Director Raisin Saidin.
“We found many were absent on purpose. The most common factor is discipline. Some had become pregnant.
“There are those who were suspended (from school) but did not appeal despite given the opportunity.
“Those who have paid money means they are entitled to sit for the exams but instead were absent. In some cases, students were told to quit school just months before the exam.
“The Department, through district education offices and schools have tried reaching out to their parents but to no avail.
“We understand it has to do with financials. After the pandemic there have been many cases where students had quit to work to sustain their families.
“The Department has taken proactive steps to mitigate this this and puts focus on those at risk of quitting school,” he said.
Raisin said most of cases were in the rural areas. There are also a few who dropped out to get married and have kids of their own.
“One hundred per cent of the time, we always encourage them to finish school. Passing Bahasa Malaysia and History earns you the SPM certificate. Passing other subjects brings added value.
The certificate is very valuable.”
He said he wanted to improve Sabah’s National Average Grade (GPN) from the 5 range to at least 4.99 by this year end.
“It is definitely doable. Why is Sabah top three in the nation in terms of co-curriculum? We can translate the success into academics.
“We have identified target groups from each 24 districts. Four states have achieved the target,” he said naming Kota Kinabalu and Penampang to be among them.
In order to improve on this, he said the department also identifes the best practices by teachers.
“But of course you cannot take the same approach for Nabawan in Ranau,” he added.
