While troubling, life does not end when you fail your SPM or fail to sit for your SPM. Learn about your options.

Entering the workforce has become gradually difficult. As teachers would have cautioned most students nowadays, having an SPM certificate is an important minimum starting point. However in 2023, statistics show that 10,160 students did not sit for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams.

While social media has recently sensationalised this issue (of a high figure and students going to become influencers), some context is needed. The figure for 2023 is actually one of the lowest in recent years. There were 30,065 and 26,918 students who didn’t attend their SPM examination in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Those figures declined to 10,681 students in 2021 and increased to 14,858 students in 2022.

Passing your SPM is not an indicator of success, but it is likely to put you on the road to success. That said, all hope is not lost if you, your child, or someone you know does not have their SPM certificate. Let’s explore the options they have to either remedy this situation or to progress from there.

#1: Re-Taking SPM as a Private Student

There are always unpredictable events in life. And those events could have led you to down the path of not being able to take your SPM exams now or in the past.

Before anything else, consider re-taking SPM as a private student. Every year, there is a high number of private students who take the SPM  exams. In 2020, during the pandemic, about 17,728 or 4.4% of registered SPM students were private (Source: Laporan Analisis Keputusan Peperiksaan SPM Malaysia 2020).

It is not the end of the world. You can go here to start your registration as a new private student or retake SPM papers. If you are feeling confused about how to get started, here is a comprehensive registration guide to do so.

Just bear in mind that you would have to pay to sit for your exams. Based on the guide, it seems that each subject is around RM20.

#2: Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) / Malaysia Certificate Course

If you have decided not to register as a private student for SPM, getting a Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) could be your next choice of action.

It was established in 2006 by Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran and is meant to help students obtain skill certificates. You don’t have to have a SPM certificate to get started. There are only two requirements.

  1. Can write in both Bahasa Malaysia and English
  2. Must have passed a lower SKM level before taking a higher SKM level

If you are worried about recognition, don’t worry. SKM is recognised by the Malaysian government and is applicable to various industries in Malaysia. You can progressively achieve your certification all the way to Diploma level.

  • Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 1
  • Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 2
  • Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 3
  • Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM)
  • Malaysian Advanced Skills Diploma (DLKM)

#3: TVET Courses

TVET stands for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

Similar to SKM, the Malaysian government has ensured that these are the only entry requirements

  • Malaysian citizen
  • No SPM or other certificates

There are many avenues to apply for a TVET course across different ministries and institutions. However, recently, the government has introduced a central platform called UP_TVET for you to apply to numerous TVET institutions.

There are many courses being offered and if you are confused about how to register, here is a comprehensive guide. If you are worried about TVET legitimacy, they are recognised by the government and is also accepted by industries in Malaysia.

#4: Apprenticeships / Working

Working might not be a bad idea. After all, there are still many job opportunities in Malaysia that don’t require SPM.

Small Medium Enterprises (SME) normally hire workers without such qualifications, as they operate small businesses. There are no regulations in Malaysia that forbid someone to hire people without SPM qualifications.

You can start your job search by going to Jobstreet. There is a specific filter called ‘no spm’ where most jobs do not require SPM qualifications. Or if you see a mom and pops shop near your area, chances are they don’t really look at SPM.

Furthermore, consider apprenticeships. Many of the ‘Masters’ or ‘Sifus’ who do various technical jobs are always on the lookout for apprentices. If anything, you can even learn much more on the job than a formal education.

#5: Entrepreneurship

You just need a business idea and a drive to implement it to become an entrepreneur. Everything else is a distraction.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t pursue higher education. But if you can’t take one for various reasons, building your own business is another option in supporting yourself.

Many Malaysians pursue SPM and higher education to get a job after that. But even then, they are not guaranteed a decent paying job after that. Nothing in life is certain.

So, why not take a shot in entrepreneurship? The risks are high, but everyone can try. There is no requirement for a SPM certificate.

#6: Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

Finally, this is for people who have been working but do not have a SPM cert. The Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) was established by Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to enable people who have working experience (but not education certificates) to qualify for post-secondary courses.

The education institution (university or college) can assess whether your working experience qualifies you to gain credit in certain courses or join them. They will conduct the aptitude test, review your work portfolio, and conduct an interview to do this.

So, if you have taken apprenticeships or build your own business, this is the perfect pathway for you to certify yourself and further your studies without a SPM certificate.

Conclusion

While having completed and passed your SPM is a start to a bright future for many, it’s also not the end of the world if you did not pass or sit for SPM. There are several education and career pathways that you can take to arrive at the same place as everyone else. Among the options listed, it is advisable to consider retaking SPM first as it may still bring value when you are progressing up the career ladder after entering the workforce.

Don’t give up!

 

Let us know in the comments below what else you think you can do!

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