Greenian country’s best SPM scorer

Tan has no secret to her success; just continuous hard work and balancing work and play

KUCHING: A candidate from SMK Green Road student, Gladys Tan, is the country’s best scorer in last year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.

SUPER SMART: Gladys get hugs and kisses from her parents.

This was confirmed by education director-general, Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom, as well as state education director, Datu Dr Julaihi Bujang, yesterday.

Gladys who scored 10A+ said she did not expect to be the best student because previously all the top-most SPM scorers were peninsular Malaysians.

“I am so happy being the best student in Malaysia. Who wouldn’t be?” she said when interviewed at her school yesterday. She did not have any secret to her success; just continuous hard work, and balancing work and play, she said.

“I did not set any specific study time, but when I felt like it, I did,” said the youngest of four siblings.

What was important was concentrating fully in class and asking questions when in doubt, she said.

As she was not so strong in Physics and Bahasa Malaysia, she attended tuition classes. On her future plans, she hoped to pursue science but has not decided on the course yet.

“If my scholarship application is accepted by the Public Services Department (JPA), I want to study at Melbourne University,” she said.

She said that she wanted to follow in the footsteps her eldest sister, who was a former student of the university. The sister is currently teaching at Lodge International School.

Her other sister is studying at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and her brother works as an engineer.

Gladys also plans to be a teacher because to her it is a wonderful profession.

Her father, Johnny Tan, 60, is a retired teacher. He taught Additional Mathematics for more than 20 years.

He said his daughter’s success was a dream comes true.

A talented pianist, Gladys plays for her church.

She did not take formal lessons, but just learned the basics from her eldest sister.

She enjoys playing the instrument during her free time.

“Gladys’ success was predicted when she was in Form 1. I have been keeping track of her performance, and I have always told my students that excellent results are the passport to international universities,” said her school principal, Putit Ped.

Ninety-one students of the school did well in the examin-ation.

Five obtained 12A, 11 obtained 11A, 21 scored 10A, 27 scored 9A, 18 scored 8A and seven scored 7A.

Including Gladys, nine Sarawakian students scored straight A+ in the SPM.

Two scored 12A+, two scored 11A+, three obtained 10A+, while the remaining two scored nine A+.

According to a press statement from the State Education Department, 33,283 candidates (91.51 per cent) obtained their SPM certificates.

Two schools – SM Sains Kuching and SM Sains Miri – were named the best schools as they had 100 per  cent pass rate.