‘If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it’

In response to Assoc Prof Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow’s letter (“Scrap all exams”, StarEdu, Jan 8), I would like to assert my view that scrapping all exams is not a viable solution for Malaysian students. If the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) is abolished, do we have a better way to assess students? No. So, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Instead of scrapping the SPM, it would be better if students, parents and employers were made to understand that the exam result is not the be-all and end-all for youths but rather, a tool to propel them towards a better future. Parents and employers shouldn’t put students down for not achieving perfect grades. Even if students do not get any As, it is not a problem because they can still attend vocational colleges, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), polytechnics and Kolej Profesional Mara. Our education system doesn’t punish those who aren’t academically inclined. The government has tried its best to give students who don’t do well in the SPM a chance to succeed in life.

MUHAMMAD ISYRAF NAJMUDDIN TALIB