PETALING JAYA: Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) chairman Noor Azimah Rahim says the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination should be reformed, rather than removed from the schooling calendar.
Azimah said many students see it as a waste of time, judging from the high number of school dropouts and absentees at the recent examination.
She said SPM currently caters mainly to the academically inclined, prioritising memorisation over higher-order thinking skills.
“PAGE is not in favour of rigid national examinations as they do not align with learning skills. What is key is quality teaching that delivers knowledge,” she said.
Azimah said the reforms should include the teaching of more “hands-on” subjects, as the national examination should, on top of providing students with an upper hand when it comes to job applications, also assess their capacity to learn and be trained for the job at hand.
“Students can learn basic skills such as sewing, baking, carpentry, car repair and app design, which can lead to them becoming apprentices or even sole proprietors.
“These skills can be assessed at the SPM level. Hobbies can turn into small businesses with the potential to grow, without pursuing higher education,” she said.
Azimah also said there was a lack of subject-specific training among educators, adding that some teachers were unable to meet the needs of students with different learning styles and speeds.
“We will only see a better delivery of knowledge and skills if these shortcomings can be addressed and effective remedies are taken,” she said.
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon agreed that the SPM and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations remain relevant and necessary, but said they need reform.
He pointed out that SPM certificates were a minimum eligibility requirement for entry into several advanced study programmes and public service schemes.
Fouzi also said although the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) has been abolished, parents are clamouring for its return, citing a lack of motivation among their children.
“Try to imagine if there is no SPM. Will students continue to go to school and study?” he said.
Previously, UCSI University professor Tajuddin Rasdi said the SPM was no longer relevant in today’s education landscape, adding that the younger generation could make good money from becoming Grab drivers and YouTubers.
He said alternative pathways such as technical and vocational education and training and microcredit schemes offered more practical routes to success in a diverse job market.
Tajuddin also said universities should develop their own entry examinations tailored to specific courses instead of depending on the SPM, adding this would cater to the students’ strengths and career aspirations. - FMT
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