The 2025 SPM results reveal a reduced grade gap between urban and rural students, highlighting progress in educational equity initiatives.
KUALA LUMPUR: The performance gap between urban and rural candidates in the 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination has narrowed significantly.
Education director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said the National Average Grade for urban candidates improved to 4.40 from 4.47 the previous year.
The average grade for rural candidates also improved, reaching 4.81 compared to 4.95 in 2024.
“This reflects our efforts to equalise the achievement of our students, whether in urban or rural areas,” he said on Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme.
He attributed the progress to the Ministry of Education’s commitment to equalising access.
These efforts include maintaining dilapidated schools and ensuring the fair deployment of teachers nationwide.
The impact was evident in 19 interior schools in Sarawak which achieved excellent SPM results.
“The measures we have implemented over time have reduced the gap to just 0.41 points,” Mohd Azam added.
The 2025 SPM session recorded the best overall performance to date.
The national average grade improved to 4.42 from 4.49 in the previous year.
A total of 366,435 candidates, or 94.29%, were eligible for certification.
This represents an increase from 355,933 certified candidates in 2024.
Candidates from Integrity Schools and Henry Gurney Schools achieved a 100% pass rate.
Among Orang Asli candidates, 1,769 were awarded certificates with five achieving straight A’s.
One candidate from a Henry Gurney School also recorded straight A’s.
