SPM 2025: CEREBRAL PALSY STUDENT OVERCOMES ODDS TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENT RESULTS

KUALA NERUS, March 31 (Bernama) -- Despite her physical limitations, a 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidate from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Padang Kemunting, near here, did not let her condition stand in the way of achieving excellent results.

Putri Noor Syahida Mohd Syah Rizal, 18, who has lived with cerebral palsy since birth, is among four students with special educational needs in Terengganu who excelled, scoring 8As (1A+, 2A and 5A-).

She said her success was the result of the sacrifices of her parents, Mohd Syah Rizal Sulong, 48, and Norlida Mohd Nor, 42, who worked tirelessly to ensure she received the best education since primary school.

“My movement is quite limited due to my condition. So every day, my father would take me to school and wait until I finished my classes, to help me with things like climbing the stairs.

“Because of that, my father could not work, as he had to take care of my schooling. This is a sacrifice I will never forget,” said the only child, when met by reporters at the SPM 2025 results announcement, at Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mahmud (SESMA), here, today.

Putri Noor Syahida said that the situation also forced her mother to work as a car salesperson to help support the family.

As such, she hopes to further her studies at the Institute of Teacher Education (IPG), Batu Rakit Campus, and is determined to achieve her dream of becoming a teacher, while also improving her family’s circumstances.

“I hope to continue my studies at IPG Batu Rakit, as it is close to my family. Studying far away would be quite difficult, as I still need my father’s assistance to move around,” she said.

Another special needs candidate, Ahmad Ateef Zhofran Abdul Majid Tahir, 18, who scored 10As, said that the death of his father, Abdul Majid Tahir Mohamed, in 2024, due to cancer, almost caused him to lose the motivation to continue his studies.

However, the student of Sekolah Menengah Agama (SMA) Sultan Zainal Abidin Ladang in Kuala Terengganu managed to persevere with the encouragement of those around him and did not allow his hearing impairment, which he has had since birth, to become a barrier to his success.

“I hope that my modest achievement can serve as inspiration for other special needs students to continue striving for success.

“Disability is not a limitation. What matters most is that we put in the effort, show respect to our parents, teachers and friends. Our relationship with Allah is also important, as all blessings come from Him,” he said.

--BERNAMA