‘Hard to score’ STPM Chinese Language

CHINESE educationists have expressed concern over the shrinking number of STPM students taking the Chinese Language subject.

They are worried that the trend will affect the intake for Chinese Language programmes in both public and private higher learning institutions.

According to a report in China Press yesterday, fewer and fewer STPM students are taking Chinese Language, which is considered a relatively tough subject, out of fear that it would drag down their cumulative grade point average (CGPA).

Statistics showed that in 2013, 550 STPM candidates sat for the Chinese paper, but the number had decreased almost by half to 284 last year.

The Chinese education fraternity believes that the figure would remain below 300 this year.

MCA Youth education development bureau chief Lim Ching Hao told the daily that much like the predicament faced by SPM students taking the Chinese paper, STPM candidates find it hard to score A in the subject due to the high cutting point for grades, resulting in relatively fewer candidates scoring distinction in the subject.

Many students who opt for STPM do so because they hope to get into public universities, Lim said, adding that these students would avoid taking Chinese Language as a poor grade in the subject would drag down their CGPA and affect their chances of admission to universities and courses of their choice.