SHAH ALAM, 1 Apr: The Federal Government has been urged to focus and prepare plans for 68,208 students who failed in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), or the Malaysian Certificate of Education, in 2013, to avoid from being marginalised.
The Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai, Nurul Izzah Anwar, said that this huge failure shows that all this while the government has been too focused on excellent students, so much so that they marginalised those who failed, who are in more need of support.
Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Education announced that a total of 13,870 students who sat for the SPM managed to get As in all subjects, an increase of 0.05 percent compared to 2012.
“The Ministry of Statistics showed 14.5 percent or 68,208 of 470,395 candidates have failed in the examination.
“Compare 408 candidates who scored A+ in all subjects taken with 128 students who failed in all subjects,” said Nurul Izzah in a statement.
Nurul Izzah said that the government should take comprehensive action to help these students who failed by increasing “employability” and ensure that they contribute to the positive energy in economic growth.
Nurul Izah added that Dr Frederico Gil Sander, an economic expert at the World Bank said in a report that Malaysians need to be aware and alert because students in rural areas in Vietnam, a country far poorer than Malaysia, have better results.
Nurul Izzah said in view that for each student that received As in all subjects taken in the SPM, about five (5) students failed in this examination, the government has to take an initiative to study why this is happening.
“We need a radical education reform in order to save our children from the gap in education that is clearly happening at the moment.
“We are responsible to ensure the 68,208 SPM candidates who failed last year, and also the candidates who failed in previous years, are not left wobbling,” he said.
Nurul Izzah urged to Government to invite all stakeholders to discuss to find a solution to the uncertainty plaguing education at the moment.
“As a first step, a Parliamentary Select Committee on Education must be established.
“We must all work together, forget political differences, so that the future of our children is assured. Pay attention to all our children, not just golden children,” said Nurul Izzah.
