PUTRAJAYA: Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein wants a study on the deteriorating performance of last year (2005)'s Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) candidates in several subjects.

Overall, he said, he is satisfied with their performance but results of subjects like Chinese Language, Computer Studies and Mathematics have dropped last year compared with the previous year.

"Although we are not so much worried about the declining results, it must be tackled from now, otherwise it could lead to bigger problems later," he said after chairing a weekly post-cabinet meeting on March 9, 2006.

The STPM results will be announced by the Malaysian Examination Council on March 16, 2006. Students can obtain their results from the respective schools on the same day.

He also said the ministry will cooperate with Umno education bureau and Wanita Barisan Nasional to gather information on the number of dropouts in the school system.

He said the ministry will identify the cause of the dropouts and how to tackle it, adding however, should it be a result of students going overseas or to private schools or schools not under the ministry such as those of Mara, it will not be a problem.