Johor Education and Information Committee chairman Aznan Tamin recently addressed the issue of Malaysians missing their SPM exams.
According to reports, more than 900 students in Johor Bahru did not show up for the 2024 SPM exams.
The exams are Malaysia’s equivalent to Singapore’s GCE O-Levels.
Apparently, Aznan Tamin believes that Singapore is the reason for the high absentee rate.
He said the students who chose to skip their papers “believe they could still have a high salary without a SPM certificate by working in Singapore.”
He added that the situation is challenging because Singapore does not recognise the SPM as necessary qualification for work.
In Singapore, higher-paying jobs require one to minimally have an O-Level cert or diploma.
It is also known that many Malaysians move or travel here for work due to our stronger currency and the offer of higher pay.
Sorry for contributing to the drop-out rates, we suppose?
Photos: New Straits Times, Unsplash/ Aditya Chinchure