Friday December 1, 2006
12 subjects max: That's how many papers an SPM candidate can take
By K. PARKARAN and M. KRISHNAMOORTHY
KUALA LUMPUR: Moves are afoot to limit to 12 the number of subjects an SPM candidate can take from next year, now that examination fees have been abolished.
The Malaysian Examination Syndicate (MES) has submitted this proposal to the Education Ministry as many Form Four students have indicated that they want to sign up for more than the required seven subjects next year since “they have nothing to lose.”
A source said that some students had told their teachers that taking more subjects at no additional cost meant they could sit for them without preparing and hope to score if they were lucky.
“Some say they can also skip the papers as nothing will be wasted. They have everything to gain as they just might do well. This is the wrong spirit but we can’t stop them as it is their choice,” a teacher said.
“The focus of our education system which offers the best scholarships to those scoring a high number of As in the SPM has led to this.”
Currently, SPM candidates pay between RM10.50 and RM20.50 per subject. With schools offering on average 10 subjects, a student pays about RM150 for the whole examination.
Last year, the top SPM student scored 15 1As. An estimated 30% of the 500,000 candidates each year opt to sit for more than the minimum required subjects.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that fees for all examinations – UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM – would be abolished from next year when he unveiled the 2007 Budget in Parliament in September. However, this applied only to candidates from government schools.
Besides limiting the number of subjects, sources said the MES has also proposed that students pay for subjects that exceed the maximum number.
“A paper has been submitted to the Education Ministry for it to be discussed by the Cabinet,” said a source.
He said a decision was needed quickly as registration for the SPM had been delayed because of this change.
MES director Datuk Dr Badiozaman Tuah confirmed that a proposal had been submitted to the ministry in view of the implications.
“It is at the discussion stage and a statement will be issued after a decision has been reached,” he said.
Reaction from teachers and parents to limiting the number of subjects was generally positive.
National Union of the Teaching Profession president Ismail Nihat said it would take the pressure off students, teachers and parents.
“Students and parents have been chasing As because the current system rewards those with a high number of As. We do not want the Government to allow students to simply take as many subjects as possible as there is no real purpose,” he added.
Parent M. Ramakrishnan agreed that there should be a limit so students could be focused.
“I personally do not want my children to take too many subjects. The free-for-all situation has given rise to intense and unnecessary competition. We want thinking students, not those who do well by rote learning,” he said.
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