A wake-up call for SPM students to focus on English

There probably isn't anyone in the world as passionate about Malaysian education as Mustaffa bin Abdullah, also known online as Kaunselor Halatuju.

The motivator and former professional architect posts routinely on Facebook and has this to say as he reflects on last year's SPM results especially in the English subject:

SPM English test results

The SPM 2014 results to me felt rather, or actually very disappointing, especially regarding student achievements in the English subject.

1. Some students missed the opportunity to get straight As in their SPM simply because of the English subject.

2. It is even more unlucky that these students missed out on getting straight As in SPM by not only achieving grade B or B+ in the English subject, but as low as grade C. Some even received grade D.

These students took 9 subjects during SPM and achieved 8A but with a D in English.

3. With a grade below C in English, despite achieving all As in other subjects, these students lose any chance of getting into any foundation programmes (asasi) offered by public universities or even MoE's matriculation.

The minimum eligibility to apply at a public university is grade C+ ; while the minimum application grade is C for matriculation.

4. Malay (bumiputera) students can also forget about enrolling into UiTM despite the institution being a special privilege for Malay (bumiputera) students if their English result in SPM is less than a grade B and a minimum of grade C for diploma programmes at UiTM.

5. If students failed or received low grades for Bahasa Malaysia and Mathematics, they can still repeat these papers in July, but not for English.

Students who failed or received low grades in English must wait until they can register and re-sit the paper with other SPM candidates in November the following year.

Note:

Eligibility to apply does not necessarily mean a guaranteed place in public universities.

Students will need to aim for at least one or two grades higher than what is the current requirements set by the public institutions for a better enrollment chance and to overcome competition from other candidates.

You still have time before SPM this year in November. Try your best and do whatever it takes.

It's now or never; it's dead or alive; it's do or die.

*the above post was translated with Kaunselor Halatuju's permission from Bahasa Malaysia and is his private and independent opinion.

Don't be shy and start communicating in English with friends and teachers now!