Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia Research Articles

Investigating the Level and Factors of Speaking Anxiety among High Performing School Students

English is mandatory for Malaysian students from standard one until form five. The subject per se has been one of the prerequisites to pass Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and to attain a high school certificate. Regardless of the long years formally learning and acquiring the language within the classroom walls especially, many still fail to speak fluently. Furthermore, the issue of low English proficiency among Malaysians has been one of the primal causes of unemployment in the country. In terms of an individual’s speaking performance, it is found that anxiety during speaking a particular language can cause mental barriers that will prevent learners from speaking fluently. This quantitative study examined the levels of speaking anxiety of Form 1 students towards the English language and the contributing factors towards English-speaking anxiety. 138 Form 1 students took part and completed an adapted 33-item English Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (ELCAS) questionnaire. The questionnaire was then analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for the mean and frequency values. The results show that 56.5% of the Form 1 students have moderate levels of English-speaking anxiety. It is also found that the highest contributing factor towards the students’ speaking anxiety is Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) with a mean of 2.59. In conclusion, English proficiency level, and socioeconomic as well as geographical factors influence the level of speaking anxiety among ESL learners in Malaysia.

Predicting students’ performance at higher education institutions using a machine learning approach

PurposeMany studies have examined pre-diploma students' backgrounds and academic performance with results showing that some did not achieve the expected level of competence. This study aims to examine the relationship between students’ demographic characteristics and their academic achievement at the pre-diploma level using machine learning.Design/methodology/approachSecondary data analysis was used in this study, which involved collecting information about 1,052 pre-diploma students enrolled at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Pahang Branch between 2017 and 2021. The research procedure was divided into two parts: data collecting and pre-processing, and building the machine learning algorithm, pre-training and testing.FindingsGender, family income, region and achievement in the national secondary school examination (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia [SPM]) predict academic performance. Female students were 1.2 times more likely to succeed academically. Central region students performed better with a value of 1.26. M40-income students were more likely to excel with an odds ratio of 2.809. Students who excelled in SPM English and Mathematics had a better likelihood of succeeding in higher education.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was limited to pre-diploma students from UiTM Pahang Branch. For better generalizability of the results, future research should include pre-diploma students from other UiTM branches that offer this programme.Practical implicationsThis study is expected to offer insights for policymakers, particularly, the Ministry of Higher Education, in developing a comprehensive policy to improve the tertiary education system by focusing on the fourth Sustainable Development Goal.Social implicationsThese pre-diploma students were found to originate mainly from low- or middle-income families; hence, the programme may help them acquire better jobs and improve their standard of living. Most students enrolling on the pre-diploma performed below excellent at the secondary school level and were therefore given the opportunity to continue studying at a higher level.Originality/valueThis predictive model contributes to guidelines on the minimum requirements for pre-diploma students to gain admission into higher education institutions by ensuring the efficient distribution of resources and equal access to higher education among all communities.

Relationship Between Parents’ Involvement with Students’ Interest and Achievements in Mathematics Learning

Parental involvement has been recognized as a crucial factor in shaping a child's educational outcomes across various subjects, including mathematics. When parents actively participate in their child's education by showing interest, discussing mathematical concepts, and assisting with homework, students are more likely to develop a deeper interest in mathematics. This engagement fosters a positive attitude towards learning the subject and can lead to improved grades and overall academic success. Mathematics has been defined as the study of assumptions and applications and is one of the compulsory subjects in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). The students need to achieve at least a passing grade, since most tertiary educational institutions in Malaysia, especially the public have very strict requirements for enrollment, not to forget the stiff competition. The main purpose of this research is to study how parents’ involvement influences students’ interests, as well as their self-perceptions, and consequently how these elements may affect their achievements in Mathematics. 186 Form Four students from SMK Bandar Baru Bangi were selected as the respondents. A quantitative method, using a questionnaire was opted as instrument for data collection. The collected data was analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS). The findings showed that majority of parents can provide the essential educational tools for children, such as geometry sets, scientific calculator etc. Most students prefer their parents to engage more in their learning process. There is a statistically positive significant relationship between parents' involvement and students’ achievements, which proves the important roles of parents in improving the interest of their children towards learning. In a nutshell, based on the evaluations done by the students, this study may indirectly assist the parents to identify the ideas and the initiatives that they may take in improving their children’s performances.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES OF TEACHING COMPUTER SCIENCE SUBJECTS FROM SCHOOL TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVE

The implementation of Computer Science (CS) in Malaysian secondary schools aims to develop digital proficiency among youths. Despite this, Kedah state has seen fluctuating enrolment in CS elective subjects for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam between 2018 and 2021, which contrasts with the increasing popularity of CS programs in higher education and the rising demand for CS skills.Addressing the challenges teachers face in delivering CS subjects is crucial, including issues like inadequate training, limited resources, language barriers, and diverse student backgrounds. This study uses a quantitative approach with self-developed questionnaires distributed among experienced CS teachers in Kedah to identify these challenges and propose solutions. Findings reveal a mix of experienced and less experienced teachers, mostly with medium-level proficiency. The study highlights difficulties in teaching Form 4 and Form 5 content and suggests improvements through professional development, collaboration, hands-on experiences, and updated resources to enhance teaching effectiveness and better align secondary education with higher education and job market needs.

SPM LEAVERS; TO STUDY OR NOT TO STUDY?

This conceptual paper focuses on the issue of students’ motivation in pursuing their education after Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. SPM is an examination system that determines students’ path after completing their studies at the secondary level and a starting point of continuing their studies at the higher education level in Malaysia. It is an exam organised by the Malaysian Examinations Board and categorised as the final test of upper secondary education. Students with good SPM results have more choices and can pursue their tertiary education easily. The Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) expressed concern when faced with the challenge of producing skilled workers because nowadays many school leavers are more interested in not continuing their studies. Some claim that students can do better in life even without a bachelor's degree. Parents and teachers need to address this issue as soon as possible and remind students of the importance of education to support their future. Parents should ensure that their children understand the importance of education and show appreciation for knowledge. Teachers should also ensure that their students understand the consequences of their actions and the importance of having a quality education because life is more demanding in the future.

TAHAP PENERIMAAN DAN KEBERKESANAN KURSUS TASAWWUR ISLAM DALAM KALANGAN MAHASISWA ASASI DI UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SABAH

The offer of basic studies at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is the same as that offered at other local universities, namely to students who are graduates of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). In pursuing the foundation level at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Muslim students need to follow the subject of Tasawwur Islam as one of the compulsory subjects. The subject of Tasawwur Islam is a continuation of the application of religious knowledge to Muslim students to provide added value to their lives. The question that arises here is does this Tasawwur Islam course have an encouraging impact on the lives of students? Therefore, this study was conducted to see the level of acceptance and effectiveness of Tasawwur Islam courses among students at UMS. This study uses quantitative methodologies based on questionnaires distributed through Google Form. There were 50 respondents among the students at UMS who had taken the time to participate in their views and perceptions on the level of acceptance and effectiveness of the Tasawwur Islam course at the foundation level. The results of the Tasawwur Islam course offering at the foundation level showed that 84% of the students can increase their knowledge especially in the ins and outs of Islam, 60% of students can apply the knowledge gained in everyday life and 42% of students can transform themselves into a better person than before. Overall, the offering of Tasawwur Islam courses at this fundamental level has a positive impact on the lives of students in the coming days.

The Development of Ideas for Writing the Introduction of An Argumentative Essay by Using The ‘Idea-Reality-Action-Now’ (IRAN) Technique among Non-Native Speakers in Sarikei District, Sarawak

The Secondary School Standard Curriculum (KSSM) has outlined that every student must be proficient in writing skills. The analysis report of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) in 2020 shows that 6.1% of the 381,129 total students who sat for the exam failed the Malay language subject. Due to that results, the researchers have developed the IRAN Technique to help students generate ideas and build grammatical sentences in writing the introductory part of an argumentative essay. The IRAN technique is one of the thinking tools that combines cognitive management tools and a mind map to make it easier for students to learn the skills of writing unformatted essays. This qualitative study was conducted by analyzing documents and questionnaires to explore the use of the IRAN Technique when writing introductions and the construction of grammatical sentences in argumentative essays of medium-achieving students. The construction of the IRAN Technique is based on Behaviorism Learning Theory and adapts the Operant Conditioning Theory to ensure that the technique created can help students write the introductory part of an argumentative essay. This study involved two form four students from a secondary school in Sarikei District, Sarawak. The participants in this study were selected based on the purposive sampling method by selecting students with average performance who scored 50% and below in Paper 1 during the exam and were classified as middle-class students. Data collection was carried out with the IRAN Technique Template and analyzed in detail to investigate the use of the IRAN Technique to generate ideas and grammatical sentences in the introduction of argumentative essays. The findings from this research indicated that the IRAN Technique can enhance the introduction of a student's argumentative essay in a manner that strengthens the way ideas are processed and the construction of grammatical sentences.

Open Response Essay Writing (Public Domain) Based on SPM Scoring Rubric among Non-Native Students in Negeri Sembilan

The highest level of language skill is essay writing, and to achieve it, a student must comprehend numerous language sub-skills in the first place. Writing skills represent a high value of marks in the secondary school Malay language subject, especially at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination level. As a result, non-native speaker students always experience challenges since they are unable to acquire the aspects of Malay language essay writing effectively. Therefore, to analyse the relevance of the ideas raised by the students toward the title of open-response essay writing provided by the teacher, this qualitative research has been carried out by using the document analysis method. Besides, the researchers also aimed to analyse students' language difficulties when they presented ideas for essay titles based on the SPM scoring rubrics set by the Malaysia Examinations Council 2022. Purposive sampling was used to select 10 essay scripts among non-native speaker students that in a medium level of achievement in several secondary schools in Negeri Sembilan. The results found that most participants (80%) did not achieve an excellent level in terms of the relevance of ideas because they did not meet the task requirements (30%), had irrelevant and unclear descriptions, and did not match the title of the task (30%), non-grammatical sentences (80%), general, limited, and inaccurate vocabulary (80%), and uninteresting and ineffective essays (30%). The findings also indicate that the most noticeable and dominant language errors were incorrect use of terms and vocabulary (80%), followed by spelling errors (75%) and incorrect use of affixes (75%). Due to the poor performance of non-native speaker students in essay writing, the researchers suggested conducting a study on how to write essays in Malay language subjects by creating a step-by-step composing module that is simple but systematic, fun, informative, meaningful, and effective also the approach can ensure a long-lasting understanding for the students.

Impacts of Achievement in Secondary School on Performance in Accounting Professional Examinations in Bumiputra’s Academic Institution

Professional accounting examinations among students and mature students were perceived as slightly challenging to pass for several reasons. Some previous empirical studies have compared students' results at the secondary school level and their results at higher education levels. Good students are expected to perform similarly in their higher education during school. In accounting professional examinations like ACCA, past studies have shown that only students with excellent results in secondary school should be allowed to join this programme as many students are having difficulties completing their studies. The purpose of this study is to find the relationship between the student’s past achievement in a secondary school based on the total numbers of A's and distinctions for a particular subject at Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) – a national examination similar to O-Level with their performance in the examination of ACCA. This study focuses on Kolej Universiti Poly-Tech MARA – a private university college in Kuala Lumpur. The methodology used in this study is by collecting data from the Institute of Professional Studies in KUPTM Academic Division database intake from 2015 until 2018. Data were analysed using SPSS Version 23. Our results showed that most students with 6 A’s and above, and A’s in Additional Mathematic subject in SPM is the main contributing factor to graduating in the ACCA examination, followed by distinction A’s in Additional Mathematic and A’s in English subject. Students from science stream backgrounds also contributed to the number of graduating in the ACCA professional examination. Other than that, this study reveals the distinction in Principles of Accounting subject during SPM and factor of gender do not contribute positive impact to be graduated or pass in professional accounting examinations in KUPTM.

Exploring the Youth's Social Mobility towards Socio-economic Development: A Case Study of Bagan Datuk, Perak, Malaysia

The news and government report on Malaysian youths' reluctance to sit for their high school examinations and further their studies have become a significant problem for Malaysia's social capital, socioeconomic development, and future outlook. It was reported that, 25,000 SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) candidates did not want to sit for the 2022 examination, while 72.1% of SPM leavers do not want to pursue for tertiary education. It is troubling when the young generation's contribution to the national growth is crucial in achieving the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 (WKB2030) and the 12th National Plan (RMK12). The endemic phase aggravated the youth unemployment rate, thus slowing the domestic economy for the local population, especially in suburban and rural areas. Tasked with the challenges of seeking employment and family economics had limited other development opportunities such as tertiary education and entrepreneurship. This study explored the issues of the youths' social mobility in the state of Perak, Malaysia. The countries' national agenda and the dynamics of youth mobility strategies formed the conceptual framework for exploring the challenges through a qualitative design research project. The findings evoked youths' input on entrepreneurial interests and feedback for policymakers and other relevant stakeholders to circumvent and resolve the dwindling number of youths' socioeconomic mobility. The implications from the bottom-up findings provide realistic insights from the current young generation on their wants for the change champions and the government to adjust the national and state strategies to create a society where there is youth fidelity by having realistic opportunities for empowerment towards their potential, contribute to the community and self-advance socioeconomically.

Iron Age in Augmented Reality

The declining number of average grade subjects in History in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) among Malaysian students is an increasing concern in Malaysia. The purpose of this study is to investigate the connection between the factors that cause the students to become uninterested to study History and how they affect the number of average grades. This study also aims to provide a solution to help students become more interested in learning History. Using a cross-sectional analysis, this study analyzed the factors that cause students to lack interest to study History from 2016 – 2019. The lack of the ability to imagine the situation of historical events was found to play the greatest role in causing students to be less interested in learning History. This study definitively answers the question regarding correlation between the cause of lack of students’ interest in learning History and how it affects the number of average grade subjects.

THE MANDARIN ORAL MASTERY PROGRAMME AS PERCEIVED BY NON-NATIVE LEARNERS

Background and Purpose: Pinyin is required in learning Mandarin. The challenge of Romanised Pinyin is that learners must decipher the meaning of words based on the change of tone. Communication research is often conducted without accounting for the effects of the change of tone in learning a language. With the aim of avoiding miscommunication while strengthening awareness, Campus Buddies Programme was employed to provide tone practice for learners and consequently explores the effectiveness of the intervention.
 
 Methodology: This quantitative classroom-based research gathered information through the administration of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to 32 Mandarin Level 1 learners identified through purposive sampling. The students studied five topics from the syllabus. A total of 10 native speakers who scored A in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) mentored the learners during the programme. The participants were instructed to answer both pre- and post-tests. Part A consists of demographic details, whereas Part B focuses on the effectiveness of questions and Part C consists of 30 questions of content learned by the respondents. The data were then analysed using SPSS 26 software.
 
 Findings: The respondents demonstrated a positive response towards the programme and suggested further improvement ideas such as prolonging the training session and adding more topics and oral activities. The results implicated the programme as a motivator for oral fluency. Many non-native speakers can benefit from conversation with Mandarin native speakers because it is a strong indicator and sound oral mastery strategy.
 
 Contributions: This research provides insights into the effectiveness of the current programme in motivating students’ oral learning. The outcome is essential in determining the Mandarin conversation strategy. More studies adopting different variables are proposed to explore correlations from different perspectives in order to improve students’ oral learning.
 
 Keywords: Tonal pronunciation, native speakers, non-native speakers, foreign language instruction, Mandarin conversation.
 
 Cite as: Chua, N. A., Soon, G. Y., Ibrahim, M. Y., Che Noh, C. H., Mansor, N. R., Embong Eusoff, A. M., Abdul Rashid, R., & Shen, M. (2022). The Mandarin oral mastery programme as perceived by non-native learners. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 7(1), 1-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol7iss1pp1-23

Ball and Stick Fun Model Kit for Stem Education

The majority of students are expected to have strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in 21st-century learning. Students can form mental habits that will help them succeed in any subject due to the emphasis on logical thought processes and problem-solving. The list of science, technology, Engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects is quite vast and chemistry is one of them. The STEM curriculum pushes students to think critically and develop original answers. Chemistry subject is believed as a major subject in the science field, however, in Malaysia, it is also deemed as one of the most challenging subjects. Crystal and chemical bonding topic are included in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Diploma and Degree syllabus. In chemistry, the topic of crystal structure and chemical bonding is commonly taught via slide presentations explaining the theories. Thus, this kit introduces a new teaching method where students need to produce the chemical bonding or crystal structure by using the “Ball and Stick” model. The coloured balls made from styrofoam represent atoms, while a set of sticks represent the bonds that hold them together. It is a special set of tinker kits to represent how molecules look. This kit box has been sold at a fixed price of RM19.90 and it contains 200 pieces of molecular model kit, including 70 atoms (ball), 100 bonds (stick) and 30 parts for lone pair. It comes with CD-ROM for instruction, notes and exercises hence providing a fun learning tool kit for students from secondary to university level. The kits can be dismantled and rebuilt or can be used for display or as a model for teaching specific crystallographic or structural concepts. The different coloured balls represent atoms of different elements. A survey has been conducted on a small group of diploma students and 100% of students agree that this kit is both entertaining and useful in gaining insight into the subject matter.

PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC TOWARDS MALAYSIA’S SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

The COVID-19 pandemic has been spreading all across the globe since December 2019. The pandemic has brought a threat by not only risking peoples’ lives but also impacting society’s mental well-being. This research aimed to discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of secondary school students in Malaysia who were expected to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination in 2020 but it got postponed due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives of the proposed research revolve around the idea of investigating the underlying causes affecting these students’ mental well-being and identifying any coping mechanisms used to overcome this issue. A total of 137 respondents took part in completing the online survey from the period of February 16th to 21st 2021. Results indicated that 59.6% of the respondents are being psychologically impacted by the current pandemic, followed by 32.7% of the respondents who mentioned they somehow are being psychologically impacted, and 7.7% stating that the COVID-19 has not impacted them psychologically at all. A variety of external stressors led to a finding in the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) that respondents were asked to respond to, indicating that 37.6% of respondents had extreme anxiety, 28.8% had moderate anxiety, 20.0% had mild anxiety, and 5.6% & had normal mental well-being. It is highly suggested that the mental health of secondary school students needs to be monitored by the respective authorities to achieve a quality education among the students.Keywords: Coronavirus, pandemic, students’ mental well-being, mental health, education, online distance learning

Error Analysis on the Malaysian Students’ Writing for ESL Classroom

English has been regarded as one of the core subjects in the Malaysian Certificate of Education or known as the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). There has been a concern over the writing components in English language papers at the SPM level. Writing requires students’ competence in syntax, coherence, developing and arranging ideas, mechanics in writing and appropriate use of vocabulary. A concern over students who produce very limited number of words in their essays has resulted in the lack of content to be assessed which then led to low scores. This paper presents an error analysis focusing on the types of errors found in students’ written test scripts to identify the weaknesses of students' writing abilities. The study adopts a qualitative approach where the students’ written assessment texts were collected. A total of 18 upper secondary Year Four students (aged 16 years old) were selected as the research participants. The selection of participants was carried out in a secondary school in one of the states in Malaysia. The students’ written tests were analysed to identify the emerging categories of language use, focusing on language and grammar inaccuracies. It is found that students have the idea on how to write the answers to the task but seem to have difficulties putting the ideas in the correct structure.

A Case Study on the ESL Upper Secondary Level Students Views in Engaging with Online Writing Lessons Conducted Via Google Classroom

Most of the researchers and experts are prompted to investigate why English as second language students (ESL) are running out of radar during their online classes especially for writing lesson conducted via Google Classroom. In order rectify the issues, the researchers of this study, wanted to find out how English as second language learners (ESL) secondary school students experienced about participating in online writing classes delivered via Google Classroom. This research focuses on the three upper level secondary students at SMK Batu Gajah in Perak. The students were introduced to the advantages of engaging with online writing class via Google Classroom, especially during this pandemic, to improve their writing ability, which can be measured, as it is the most difficult skill for students to master. This study is important for upper secondary students to enhance their writing skills before sitting for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam. As it is a case study, the interview sessions were accomplished via Google Meet with the learners at various times to maintain the validity and reliability of the instrument. The recorded interview sessions were then transcribed after the interview session. The researcher judiciously categorised and analysed the relevant key notes that strongly support the research questions in order to jot down the findings. The findings clearly show that all of the students are enthusiastic about their participation in a writing class facilitated via Google Meet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the students believed that Google Classroom has improved their writing abilities to some extent, despite some difficulties in familiarising with the new learning platform. However, the students mentioned that Google Classroom, the new teaching and learning platform, had boosted their motivation to improve their writing skills.

KEMAHIRAN MENULIS JAWAPAN PETIKAN SASTERA KBAT MENGGUNAKAN KAEDAH LATIH TUBI SOALAN BERULANG MURID MENENGAH ATAS DI MAAHAD KAWALAN

The Bahasa Melayu question paper is divided into two papers ( Paper 1 and Paper 2), with both papers require written essay responses. The literature section is the part of the questions that students are required to answer in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam. There are 13 marks awarded for 4 questions, two of them are questions in the form of KBAT. The aim of this study was to improve secondary school students' skills in writing KBAT answers using drill method. In addition, the researchers compared students' responses to four parts of the questions in the literature section of Bahasa Melayu Paper 2 (1103/2) before and after the drilling method. This study used a qualitative approach in the form of a case study (document analysis). In data collection, 5 classes in Maahad Control were subjected to pre-test and post-test. The study revealed that the pre-test scores of 10 students randomly taken from 5 classes, 3 of them were at the weak level and 7 students were at intermediate level. However, after 6 drilling sessions, the researcher found that the performance of the students improved in the post-test. 2 students reached an intermediate level and 8 students reached a good level in answering literature questions. This proves that students trained with drill method mastered the techniques of answer writing due to the influence of answer discussion which highlights the key words in each question. Meanwhile, teachers still need to guide students on punctuation and the use of appropriate cohesive devices in each part of the answer.

Students’ Performance Prediction using Artificial Neural Network

This paper proposed a method for predicting diploma students’ performance of Faculty of Electrical Engineering (EE), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Terengganu. Data of 59 first semester students from Electrical Engineering (EE) were obtained to predict students’ academic performance. A predictive model based on a machine learning technique was employed. The predictive model utilizes Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique that was developed to predict the actual performance of first semester students based on Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results, first semester results, and the interest level of the participants towards EE course. The findings have shown that the developed model could accurately predict the actual result of the first semester students successfully with minimal errors.

Modeling Mathematics Performance Between Rural and Urban School Using a Fuzzy Logic Approach

This study concerns competitiveness in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) performance between two different schools in Kedah, Malaysia, focusing on Mathematics scores. There are two different schools selected namely SMK Sungai Layar and SMK Bandar Sungai Petani. SMK Sungai Layar is a rural school while SMK Bandar Sungai Petani is an urban school. The objectives are to determine which schools between urban and rural schools perform better in mathematics subjects and classify students' performance on Mathematics subject using Fuzzy Logic. It is found that the performance of urban school was better than the rural school. As for rural school, the performance was moderate. The percentage of Mathematics value for SMK Bandar Sungai Petani is higher than SMK Sungai Layar. The number of students from an urban school who got a good score was double from the number of students from rural schools. The results show that the students from the urban school have excellent flexibility and reliability in Mathematics subject.

Stres dan Strategi Daya Tindak dalam Kalangan Pelajar Program Transformasi Diri (PTD) di Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Pulau Pinang (IPGKPP)

The Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education (IPGM) has designed a comprehensive teacher training program for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) graduates, by using competitive teacher training program that in line with the needs of the globalisation era. However, this teacher training program is challenged when there are cases of suicide as well as an increase in dropout cases using IPGM students. This study aims to identify the level of stress and coping strategies among students of the Program Transformasi Diri (PTD) according to gender and course options taken at Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Pulau Pinang (IPGKPP). A total of 41 respondents consisting of 21 male students and 20 female students. Respondents in this study were selected based on the purpose of sampling method that is the study respondents should consist of participants from the PTD organised by the Psychology and Counseling Unit IPGKPP. This study used a questionnaire to collect responses from respondents based on two questionnaires used namely Depressive Anxiety and Stress Scales 42-item (DASS-42) Malay Version for measuring the level of stress and Inventori Strategi Daya Tindak (ISDT) to identify strategies responsiveness of the respondents of this study. The results showed that the study respondents were at a mild and moderate level of stress. Furthermore, the findings of the study also show that there is no significant difference between gender factors as well as study options with the level of stress faced. In addition, the findings also show that the study respondents are more likely to use engagement strategies that show the ability to manage the problems they face. As a result of the findings obtained, the researcher suggested that there should be a specific program provided related to stress management skills in the study of IPGM trainee teachers who pay attention to aspects of coping strategies in an effort to address the stress faced.