KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has directed a full review of the SPM Moral Studies subject following widespread complaints.
Over unexpectedly low grades affecting high-achieving students. She said the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate will reassess and improve the subject.
After concerns from parents and students that results could jeopardise eligibility for matriculation programmes, which often require top grades.
Fadhlina acknowledged the “anxieties of parents and the community” and thanked Sri Murugan Centre director Surain Kanda for raising the issue.
Critics, including MUDA vice-president Siva Prakash, pointed to a lack of transparency in the grading system.
Noting that SPM results are based on a moderation framework where grade boundaries shift according to overall cohort performance but are not publicly disclosed.
Surain also proposed reforms to the exam format, suggesting an open-paper approach with analytical marking, while arguing that the current threshold.
Reportedly requiring scores above 95 for an A+ — is excessively high. The issue has drawn attention after reports that even strong students who performed well in other subjects.
Received lower-than-expected grades in Moral Studies, potentially affecting their chances of securing places in matriculation programmes.
