YOURSAY ‘What could be the reason for the secrecy? Let me guess.’
Shhh! SPM grade marks a government secret
Ferdtan:
This is nothing new. This had happened before under Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s watch as PM.
The inference of making SPM grade marks (or of any other public examinations) a government secret points at possible manipulation by Education Ministry to produce a politically desired result.
This is not helping the standard of education in Malaysia at all; it is a “syiok sendiri” under the delusion that they have done well.
I remember many years ago when I met with my old family doctor who was a medical examiner with our local university. He told with disgust that many medical students who had not attained the required passing marks were allowed to pass their examinations.
I remember his words very distinctively - they are playing with lives! Now we know why the standard of our education is so poor.
It is so easy to get an “A’ without really working hard for it. We take an example of our one of the best universities in the world back in the 70s and early 80s, University of Malaya.
The medical school of UM used to be ranked among the top 10 medical schools in the world. Where are we now? We are not even among the top 100 universities in the world.
As for the medical faculty in UM, we lost our GMC (General Medical Council) accreditation in 1988. So the rot started long ago under Mahathir when the quota system based on race was adopted.
Anonymous_40f4: In all other countries, they go by the marks obtained by the candidate in the selection for university places.
The grading system in Malaysia is absurd and stupid. Here they strangely go by the grade and not the marks obtained.
A candidate who gets 65% marks is awarded an 'A' grade and a candidate who obtains 95% marks is also awarded an 'A' grade. A difference of 30 marks.
Clearly, the candidate with 95% marks in far deserving than the one with 65% marks.
SpongeBob: A total of 442,588 candidates for the examination last year 2013. A total of 405 candidates, scored Grade A+ (super distinction) in all the subjects, that is about 0.0915% - extremely small for the given population.
A total of 13,970 achieved straight 'A's, that is about 3.156%. A total of 378,490 candidates from Education Ministry and non-ministry schools qualified for SPM 2013 certificates, that is about 86%. A total of 64,098 candidates did not qualify for SPM 2013 certificates, that is about 14%.
Based on the above figures from MOE (Ministry of Education), I conclude the following: The cream of the country is so small that the quality of the bulk of the students is questionable, as the ministry has not given any indication of the grade thresholds.
If one were to plot a graph from super distinction to failure grades, it would show a negatively skewed distribution. An unsatisfactory outcome in regards to the candidates' achievement.
Where does the problem lie - MOE? Curriculum? Teachers? Parents? Students?
Abasir: What could be the reason for the secrecy? Let me guess. Public knowledge of the marks and grades would:
- Cause an outcry among minorities.
- Shame the regime and prove its critics right.
- Cause all foreign institutions to refuse admission to local school leavers.
- Result in the de-recognition of all local qualifications.
- Threaten the position of the 'education minister'.
- Bring the country into universal ridicule.
- Cause the exodus of foreign investors.
- All of the above.
Much as it tried to conceal it from the rest of the world, the loss of MH370 has shone a searing spotlight on the arrogant fools on parade each day.
We don't know when the plane will be recovered, if at all. What we do know is that the put-on image of a progressive society (thanks to expensive PR consultants) has been lost forever.
Ex-Wfw: Pantai Lembah MP Nurul Izzah, let us face the truth. The bar is now electronically controlled and its movement will depend on the magician who holds the remote.
All said and done, knowing the exact height of the bar will not change anything to the long-term interest of this nation.
Even if the bar is set another meter higher, the impact on the long-term interest of this nation will not change as proven by the last TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) or PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) result.
The overall standard is three or four years behind the top 10 nations in those test (within the same number of years of education) 85% of our students are trained to hide under the coconut shell; hence only the top 15%, because of their natural instinct of survival in their DNA will be able to float above the international water level.
So be prepared for our labourers to migrate some time post-2025. Maybe by then, we can apply to Zimbabwe for work permits!
Mushiro: Seriously our education, both school and university standards, is going to the dogs. Malaysia gives excuses to compare with TIMMS and PISA.
When these benchmark put us below Vietnam, then there is a serious problem. The way to tackle the problem is to admit the problem and work on it. Malaysia's way of solving the problem is to hide it and put it under OSA.
Straight 'A' students come by the truckload
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .
