KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18- The number of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates who were absent for all written examination papers recorded a decrease to 8,076 people in 2024 compared to 10,160 candidates in the previous year.

Deputy Education Minister, Wong Kah Woh said of the total, 6,231 were candidates from schools under the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), compared to 8,676 candidates in SPM 2023.

"This data clearly shows a downward trend in student absenteeism," he said when replying to Kangar Member of Parliament, Zakri Hasan, in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Commenting further, Wong said among the reasons recorded for students missing the exams were employment, family issues, natural disasters, and health problems.

Wong emphasised the issue of absenteeism remains serious.

"Through various interventions, initiatives, and continuous efforts by the ministry, we have seen a reduction in absenteeism for the 2024 SPM," he said.

Wong added official data on candidate attendance for the 2024 SPM examination will be released on the day the exam results are announced.