Destined to FAIL, here’s how 8000+ SPM 2024 students changed their fate with Program Anak Kita

For most Malaysians, the word SPM instantly brings back memories of late-night study sessions, endless past year papers, extra tuition classes, and the crushing weight of expectations from teachers, parents, and that one makcik who keeps asking “Dapat straight A tak?” at kenduri.

But what if the expectation… was that you’d fail?

That was the reality for thousands of students across Malaysia who either failed Bahasa Melayu or Sejarah during their trials, or, didn’t even sit for them. And in SPM world, failing either subject is like pulling the handbrake on your future.

Without passing both, you don’t get an SPM certificate, which means no opportunity for higher education, difficulty applying for jobs, and a whole lot of doors slamming shut before life even properly begins.

So for these students, the outlook was bleak.

That’s where Program Pecutan SPM comes in! An intensive academic intervention initiative under Belanjawan 2025, created to ensure every student gets the support they need to do better in their SPM and change their story.

To see how well it worked, we spoke to Ms Aeti Abdullah, Senior Manager for Education Advocacy at Yayasan Hasanah, to understand how this program turned failure into opportunity, and what it could mean for the future of Malaysian students.

So, what exactly is Program Pecutan SPM?

Program Pecutan SPM is part of Program Anak Kita, an initiative by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance, led by Unit Pantau MADANI in collaboration with Yayasan Hasanah. It was created to tackle the massive learning loss caused by COVID-19 – y’know, those two chaotic years of online classes where half the time kids were staring at a frozen Zoom screen.

At the start, the program identified and hand-picked students who were most at risk of failing SPM. Basically, there were either students who scored an E or below for BM and/or Sejarah during the trial exams, or those who didn’t even show up.

These students were then enrolled into a five-week intensive program, blending face-to-face classes with online support. The program focuses specifically on BM, Sejarah and Maths – choosing to target key subjects for the max amount of intensive academic intervention!

Throughout this program, they receive extra tuition sessions, motivational support to get them out of “I’m doomed” mode, 24/7 access to Guru Pakar via Telegram, and targeted learning materials that actually match their level.

“My role focuses on ensuring that these programs are designed and implemented effectively in collaboration with our partners, so that students receive the academic support they need.”

Ms Aeti Abdullah, Senior Manager for Education Advocacy at Yayasan Hasanah, to Cilisos

The aim isn’t just to get them to memorise the skema jawapan, but to close learning gaps and rebuild their confidence, one worksheet and pep talk at a time.

Did it make a difference? Short answer: ABSOLUTELY

The numbers speak louder than any motivational TED Talk. According to the Program Anak Kita website, the program reached 10,119 students nationwide in 2024, and in its first run, 88% of them passed their exams. That’s a whopping 8,855 students who walked away with that precious SPM certificate!

And we’re not talking small improvements here. Across three key subjects (Bahasa Melayu, Sejarah, and Mathematics) students made serious comebacks. According to Yayasan Hasanah, some even went from G to A+!

From all the students who failed or did not attend the Bahasa Melayu trial exams:

• 5 students jumped to A or A-
• 29 scored B+ or B
• 337 improved to C+ or C

The same goes for Sejarah, where:

• 10 students scored A or A-
• 140 scored B+ or B
• 879 scored C+ or C

But the biggest leaps were definitely made in Mathematics, where:

• 321 students achieved A+, A or A-
• 398 scored B+ or B
• 683 scored C+ or C

Another huge win? Attendance. Even though 249 students had skipped their trial exams, 99% showed up for their actual SPM after joining the program. That’s a massive mindset shift – from giving up to showing up. And we’re glad they did, because 51% of those students actually passed their exams.

Program Pecutan SPM is coming back bigger and better in 2025

Just like how the program gave students the confidence to sit for their exams, its success has inspired organisers to scale it up for 2025. Ms Aeti Abdullah gave us the lowdown, and it’s looking pretty darn promising:

• Bigger target, longer runway: They’re going from 10,000+ students to a whopping 20,000 students nationwide, with the program kicking off earlier in February 2025 to give everyone more prep time.
• Tablets for every student: This time around, every participant will get their own tablet loaded with learning materials and educational apps, in line with the Ministry of Education’s Dasar Pendidikan Digital.
• Smaller classes, smarter learning: The program will also focus on smaller tuition groups, so students actually get time to ask questions and not just nod blankly through quadratic equations. Plus, they’ll have open access class recordings, so if you miss something, you can just… rewind.

And to bring all this together, teachers from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) are jumping in, combining digital tools, real-life interaction, and personalised support to help students not just ace their exams, but build the confidence to take on whatever comes after.

“I hope to see this program expand so that every student who needs academic support can access it, no matter where they are. I also envision the program evolving into a holistic support system that integrates academic learning with mental health resources, career guidance, and life skills, helping students not only succeed in SPM but also thrive in the next stages of life.”

Ms Aeti Abdullah, to Cilisos

So if you’re sitting for SPM soon (or know someone who is) remember: bombing your trials isn’t the end of the road. Sometimes it’s just the prequel to a pretty epic comeback.

Even if you’re chilling on the far left of the bell curve, help does exist. With programs like Program Anak Kita and Program Pecutan SPM, more students are getting a fair shot at flipping their story.

“Believe in your efforts, take care of your well-being, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you need it. You are capable of far more than you think, and this is only the start of the many opportunities ahead.” 

Ms Aeti Abdullah, to Cilisos

So chin up, sharpen that 2B pencil, and go write the ending you want.