Malaysia defends exam standards as maths proficiency plummets globally

Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh has moved to defend Malaysia's methodology for setting SPM examination standards, characterising the practice as an established assessment technique employed by central examination boards across the globe.

The defence comes amid growing concerns over the country's mathematics performance, which has slipped to historic lows according to international benchmarking data. The decline has prompted scrutiny of how examination standards are set and maintained within the national education system.

Wong stressed that the standardisation process for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) follows recognised protocols used internationally. Central examination authorities worldwide employ similar methodologies to ensure consistency and comparability across assessment cycles, he explained.

Education ministry officials have indicated that the approach to standard-setting remains rigorous and transparent. However, the significant drop in mathematics achievement has reignited debate about whether current examination frameworks adequately reflect students' mastery of core competencies.

The government is expected to conduct further reviews of curriculum and assessment practices to address the performance gap and improve outcomes in critical subject areas.