Kota Kinabalu: Some 984 students in Sabah failed to take their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination last year, a significant drop compared to 2022 where 1,564 stayed away.
The 984 absentees came from a mix of secondary schools in urban and rural areas in Sabah. Among the reasons for not taking the SPM included getting married early or looking for a job.
Some were not interested to study while there may have been those who have been ill or had passed away.
Sabah Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin attributed the better showing to teachers and counsellors in the respective schools carrying out motivation programmes to impress upon students the importance of taking the examination.
