MOE Director: Over 1,700 Students Failed ALL SPM Subjects, Some Due to Working Night Shifts

The 2024 Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) examination results recorded the best achievement since 2013, with a National Grade Point Average (GPK) index of 4.49 points compared to 4.60 points in 2023.

Despite the achievement, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said the number of students who failed all subjects in SPM increased.

In a press conference this morning (April 24), the Director of MOE, Datuk Haji Azman Bin Haji Adnan said many students who failed all subjects did not focus during the lesson. Not only that, but a big part of them also worked at night, particularly those in urban areas.

In the conference, Datuk Haji Azman said a total of 1,789, or 0.5 percent of students who sat for SPM 2024 failed all subjects including the core subjects – Bahasa Melayu and History, which prevented the students from obtaining their certificates. The number is an increase of 0.1 per cent compared to the previous year. In January 2025, the ministry also revealed that about 10,000 students did not sit for SPM 2024.

For SPM 2023, 1,467 candidates did not pass all subjects

“Some candidates also face literacy and numeracy issues, which were not addressed earlier, including a lack of support from their home learning environment.”

“Family issues also impacted the students’ performances,” Datuk Haji Azman added.

While the 2024 SPM results showed significant improvements in various areas, particularly academic performance, Azman said the ministry is taking the rise in the number of candidates who failed all subjects seriously.

What’s next for the candidates who failed SPM 2024?

According to Datuk Haji Azman, the ministry is assessing an approach for this group of students ahead of the 2025 SPM, particularly by strengthening remediation programmes to improve students’ analytical abilities.

This includes expanding targeted academic support initiatives and activating collaborations with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), agencies, and communities to help them.

To those who obtained their results today, are you happy with what you got?

Also read: “Chill, SPM isn’t everything” – Malaysian Man Who Failed SPM Brags About His RM3.5K Salary