SEEP a targeted approach meant to boost SPM results, says minister

KUCHING (July 9): The Sarawak Education Enhancement Programme (SEEP), set for launch next month, would focus on key subjects in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination including those under the Science Stream, as well as English, Mathematics and History.

According to the Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, the initiative is a collaborative effort between Yayasan Sarawak and the state Education Department, intended towards improving the performance in SPM among the Sarawakian students.

“After analysing the data with Education Department Sarawak, we have determined that a targeted approach is necessary in enhancing our results,” he said in his speech for the opening ceremony of the Sarawak English Language Education Symposium (SELES) 2024, at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre here today.

Adding on, Sagah said the intensive programme would be introduced this August to Form 3, Form 4 and Form 5 students, aimed at not only improving their SPM results, but also meeting the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 goals, as well as being in line with the state government’s vision of providing free tertiary education to Sarawakians by 2026.

In this regard, he called for existing academic enhancement programmes to continue on.

“SEEP is intended as an additional programme, meant to further boost the existing school’s academic performance,” he added.

In a recent statement, Sagah had described SEEP as ‘a long-term plan to make Sarawak’s SPM results become on par with the national average, within five years’.

The programme would be implemented with a heightened focus on achieving commendable academic outcomes, involving the students in Form 3 up to those in Form 5 in all secondary schools across Sarawak.

Meanwhile, in a press conference called after SELES 2024 opening ceremony, Sagah gave assurance that the preparations to introduce a new examination system to replace Year 6’s Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), starting in 2026, were progressing smoothly.

However, he said the details regarding the new system would be announced at a later time.

“Next year is 2025, and our primary school pupils are currently in Year 5.

“We just started with the Dual Language Programme (in 2020), so next year, we want to ensure that these school-children are fully prepared,” he said in response to a question from a reporter.

“The matter will be discussed in detail at the Sarawak Cabinet level.

“This means that it falls under the jurisdiction of my ministry, and does not need to be presented in the DUN (State Legislative Assembly),” added Sagah.