10-subject limit for SPM from next year

(The Star) NILAI: From next year, students sitting for the SPM examinations will only be allowed to sit for a maximum of 10 subjects.

The grading system for the examination will also be improved to better reflect the academic achievements of the students.

Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the ministry decided to do away with the open certificate system, which allows students to sit for as many subjects, as the majority only took 10 subjects or fewer.

“Records show that some 90% of students sitting for the SPM exam take 10 or fewer subjects,” the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters yesterday after laying the foundation stone for the new RM1.3bil Education Com-plex at Bandar Enstek near here.

“We want to streamline this as it will also be an easier way to determine the awarding of scholarships.”

Some 450,000 students sat for the SPM exam last year.

Muhyiddin said teachers would also be able to focus better if students were only allowed to take up to 10 subjects because they would not be burdened with teaching other subjects.

“Parents also will not have to rush their children for too many tuition classes.”

On the grading system, Muhyid-din said instead of giving students 1A, B or C, their grades would include A+, A and A- from next year to make it more effective in deciding who was most qualified for a scholarship.

On a separate matter, Muhyiddin said the ministry would, under the 10th Malaysia Plan, give more focus to improve infrastructure in rural schools.

He added it wanted more experienced teachers to be posted to such schools to improve the performance of students.

He said the ministry would also ensure that schools in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak, and in certain rural areas of the peninsula had water and electricity supply.

Teachers would also be given quarters to live to ensure they had a conducive living environment although serving in rural areas.