JOHOR BARU: Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2021 candidates from the Tanjung Piai parliamentary constituency have been given free access to online tuition classes to help them excel in the examination.

       Some 1,500 SPM candidates from 11 secondary schools including a religious school and a vocational school would benefit from the initiative, said Tanjung Piai MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng.

       Wee said the students could begin joining the classes by this month.

       “It is important to prioritise education and give each student equal opportunity to do well in their studies. No one should be left behind.

       “I hope that this programme will benefit the students in Tanjung Piai and allow them to do well in their SPM so that they are able to go to university and raise their family out of poverty,” he said during the launch of the virtual event by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon yesterday.

       Wee, who is also Deputy Primary Industries and Commodities Minister, said the programme was first mooted in 2017 and the focus back then was to provide free tuition classes for secondary students physically.

       “Starting from 2018, we have turned it into online classes with each participating student given an account with a password to log into the online classes.

       “Every year, about 1,500 to 1,700 SPM students benefited from this. We hope to continue this programme every year, especially during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as lessons are being conducted online,” he said.

       He added that students were given access to a total of 17 subjects covering Secondary 4 and 5 syllabus.

       Wee also thanked the schools involved in the initiative, the Pontian Education Department and main sponsor Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd (BHPetrol) for their collaboration in the programme.

       Separately, Dr Mah lauded the initiative, adding that it was a good example of concerted efforts that would help to facilitate online learning amid the pandemic.

       “We hope the free online tuition classes, coupled with existing online learning from schools can help the students to be better prepared in facing the SPM exams.

       “I also call upon the students to take advantage of the initiative and work harder in their studies,” he said.

       For more information on the programme, visit https://tanjungpiaituition.com/.