A 57-year-old schoolteacher from Negeri Sembilan has chosen to return to the SPM examination hall nearly four decades after his first attempt, driven by a desire to support and inspire his teenage son who is sitting for the same national exam this year.
Lim Siong Fui, who teaches at SMK Tuanku Abdul Rahman, registered as a private candidate earlier this year for Mathematics and Additional Mathematics. His decision was made with one goal, which is to accompany his 17-year-old son through what he considers one of the most crucial academic stages.
Lim said the pair spent months studying side by side, often discussing solution methods and tackling challenging problems together.
“Revisiting these subjects after almost 40 years is not easy, but doing it with my son gives me purpose,” he said, adding that their joint effort created a healthy sense of motivation for both.
Image credit: Siong Fui Lim (Facebook)
He first sat for the SPM in 1986, earning strong grades in both subjects, and now hopes to achieve excellent results once again, which is as part of a father-son milestone. His son, a Science stream student described as determined and naturally strong in the subjects they share.
Rising number of private candidates in the state
Negeri Sembilan Education Director Khalidah Omar said the state saw a noticeable rise in private SPM candidates this year, with 1,164 registered individuals, recording an increase of over 30 per cent from the previous year. In total, 17,354 candidates are sitting for the examination across 145 centres, including several located in hospitals.
Image credit: Business Today
“The education authorities have prepared contingency plans due to the ongoing Northeast Monsoon,” she added.
Fifteen exam centres and 246 candidates have been identified as potentially affected by floods, prompting the activation of safety committees and support teams at state and district levels.
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