The release of the results of the SPM and STPM examinations recently produced the typical euphoria among those who scored well and somber response from among those who succumbed miserably to the flawed system. Despite numerous calls from various parties, nothing seems to have changed.

We witnessed the happiness of those students who scored maximum As. We should all congratulate them for their achievement which was the result of long hours of hard work and sacrifice. We should really appreciate the zeal and determination of these high-achievers.

There were those who grieved just because they fell short of the top score by just a single A. Then there were those who lamented they could not obtain their targeted 17 or 18As.

There was competition between parents, too, who were all out to ensure their children out-do those of others. They did not hide the expressions of frustration and jealousy when their children lost out in this unhealthy competition by a single A. In some instances, the difference was just between an A1 and an A2. We all are aware that some of these children were severely reprimanded even after obtaining 8 or 9As.

Then came the sudden decision by Education Ministry director-general Dr Ahamad Sipon not to name the Best Student for the year. According to him, this was because all the top scorers have their own strengths and weaknesses. Yes, it is a right decision which should have been made before the results were announced and not after the winner is known. In the first place, there should not be such an award as it would only further encourage the 'A syndrome' which has become the hallmark of our education system.

In the midst of all the jubilation and the glorifying of a handful of elite students, we overlook the vast majority, many from the lower income families, who obtained just average results and a equally large number who just managed to scrape through with a Pass. There are also many who miserably failed the examination outright. We should not only sympathise with them but go all out to encourage them in whatever way we can.

Today, school examinations have become like a race where we go all out to spend large amounts of time, money and energy to ensure our children pass with flying colours. It is a pity that this race is not a fair one as it is weighted against to those who are financially handicapped and cannot afford the exorbitant fees for tuition.

It has become a practice of our media to 'over-glorify' those who score maximum As in their examinations but neglect those who despite their disadvantaged position manage to get above average results. They encourage the notion that collecting As is what education and life are all about. This practice of the media aggravates the ill-effects of the examination-orientated education system of ours.

We must realise that these top scorers are just a small percentage of the total student population. The majority are the average scorers with 4 to 6As. However, much we encourage and coax our students, only a few will become maximum scorers and this is a fact of life we all have to accept. Our country is not going to be ruled by these few brilliant students but by the mediocre majority.

These high achievers must be rewarded accordingly, but it is equally important to ensure the others are also taken care. It is more important to encourage the majority to excel in things for which they have a liking and aptitude. Opportunities must be made available to these students as well.

By over-glorifying these top scorers, tremendous psychological pressure is placed on other students to ape them. This causes a great amount of stress on them. Those with average or even above average results are made to feel useless and a failure in school. From experience, we know that success in examinations does not necessarily guarantee success in life.