Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh reveals the urban-rural SPM grade gap remains at 0.45 points, despite consistent performance improvements for both groups nationwide.
KUALA LUMPUR: The performance gap between urban and rural SPM candidates persists despite overall improvements.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the National Average Grade (GPK) gap was 0.43 points in both 2022 and 2023.
The gap widened slightly to 0.45 points in the latest 2024 results.
Urban candidates achieved a GPK of 4.47 last year, while rural candidates recorded 4.92.
“This shows continuous improvement in average grades among both urban and rural candidates,” Wong said in Parliament.
He was responding to a question on plans to strengthen rural teacher training to ensure educational equity.
The ministry implemented 587 teacher training programmes for 68,126 teachers nationwide in 2024.
Training focused on high-impact pedagogy and effective teaching practices tailored for rural schools.
“This year, programmes will involve 23,000 rural teachers and be coordinated in a more structured manner,” Wong added.
Allocations are channelled into STEM education, language policy, curriculum intervention, and preschool education.
These initiatives support the upcoming implementation of the 2027 school curriculum.
On teacher placement, Wong said transfers are managed via the eGTukar system based on school needs.
Rural schools are categorised into three levels, with teachers receiving additional monthly allowances.
“The ministry’s integrated approach demonstrates our commitment to enhancing teacher competency regardless of location.”
