More students with 4.0 CGPA in STPM 2016

PUTRAJAYA: Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid has expressed his satisfaction following the overall improvement of the 2016 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations.
Describing the results as one of the best over the years, Mahdzir said it shows an overall improvement in academic quality.
"There is 1.3% improvement in the performance of candidates in the 2016 examination as the National Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) has increased from 2.65 in 2015 to 2.71 in 2016.
"I am hopeful that this performance can be bettered for this year's examination," he told reporters following the announcement of the 2016 STPM results here today.
Mahdzir also hoped that more students would opt to sit for the STPM in an effort to pursue higher education.
"While there were 47,122 candidates who registered for the exams only 43,235 candidates eventually sat for it," he said.
Highlighting the lack of students in the pure science stream, Mahdzir added the ministry will ensure more laboratories are built to cultivate students' interest in science.
On another matter, Mahdzir said the government is currently studying whether students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia could attempt major examinations via an "open book" method.
"A committee has been set up to determine this matter and when the time comes to make a decision we will announce it," he said.
His response came in light of the issue raised by parents whose children suffer from dyslexia, a disorder that involves difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols making it a challenge during an examination.
The disorder however does not affect general intelligence.