(Back row, third from left) Thomas and Tengku Azlan (seventh from left) with the 14 students who attended the ceremony in Brickfields. — Photos: KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star
A TOTAL of 28 blind and visually impaired students who sat for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2022 examination scored 6As and above, with four of them achieving 11As.
To honour them and recognise their achievements, the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB), presented several of them with certificates and cash totalling RM35,000 at the MAB Complex in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.
MAB executive director George Thomas said the SPM 2022 results had proven that blind or visually impaired individuals could excel above and beyond their sighted peers when provided with the opportunity and platform.
“Those with 9As and above received RM2,000 each while those with 6As to 8As got RM1,000 each.”
He said that advancements in technology had made the visually challenged more independent.
“We, as a community, need to show support by ensuring the availability of facilities and opportunities for the blind and visually impaired community,” said Thomas.
Despite being visually challenged, 18-year-old Nur Iman Khaliesah Muhamad from Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, who attended SM Pendidikan Khas Setapak, achieved 9As in her SPM, including 3A+ grades in Islamic studies and Tasawwur Islam subjects.
Kit Yan, (left) who scored 7As, seen here with her mother.
“I was taken aback when I got my results, particularly when I discovered that I had achieved an A in mathematics,” she said, adding that she hoped to continue her studies in insurance or business.
Nur Iman said mathematics was a challenging subject due to her visual impairment.
“For maths, it was hard for me to draw the graphs but there were tools like lenses that helped me to see better,” she said.
“I would like to thank my teachers for their dedication in conducting extensive revisions with us and sacrificing their time to organise additional classes, including night sessions,” she added.
Nur Iman said that she would always pose questions to her teachers and try her best to study late at night.
“Personally, I find late nights to be the optimal time for studying as the quiet environment and lack of distractions make it easier for me to concentrate.”
She said visual impairment was not a barrier for her to keep up with her studies.
“Those with visual impairment should not lose hope, as there are supportive teachers available who are willing to assist us if we seek their help, and numerous tools are now available to help us in our studies as well,” she added.
Nur Iman (left), from Gombak, with her certificate for scoring 9As while Arif Zulkarnain, from Kuantan, scored 8As.
Twenty-year-old SM Pendidikan Khas student Mun Kit Yan from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, was also thrilled to have achieved 7As in the SPM.
“I watched and listened to a lot of educational videos on YouTube and did some notes to help me study better,” she said.
Kit Yan, who is interested in taking a counselling course, added that she implanted the idea of being an excellent student in her mind to keep herself motivated.
Another SM Pendidikan Khas Setapak student Arif Zulkarnain Azriman, 18, from Kuantan in Pahang, attained 8As in his SPM, with an A+ grade for Tasawwur Islam subject.
“I was quite surprised because I didn’t expect to achieve this result, as I usually got only an average of three or four As in other examinations.
“I was especially surprised by my A in History, which was my weakest subject,” he said, adding that being an albino with low vision had not hindered his studies.
Arif Zulkarnain said that he frequently participated in group studies with his friends, where they would guide each other in the subjects they excelled at.
“My teachers and parents have consistently provided me with continuous encouragement.
“My parents would frequently purchase revision books too,” he said.
Arif Zulkarnain expressed a wish to pursue further studies in computer science at a public university and is currently awaiting the outcome of his application.Fourteen out of the 28 blind and visually impaired students who achieved good results were present at the event, which was also attended by MAB president Tengku Tan Sri Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar.
