Accra:A total of 400 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination candidates from B40 and M40 households have benefited from free tuition classes under the ACE SPM 2026 programme. This initiative follows a RM254,000 contribution by Yayasan TZA (YTZA) to 10 schools in the Pandan and Ampang parliamentary constituencies.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, YTZA adviser Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz stated that each school received RM25,400, channelled through its respective Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) to fund tuition classes for 40 students per school. The programme offers free tuition in four core subjects Bahasa Melayu, English, Mathematics, and History. Additionally, students receive stationery, notebooks, structured learning support, and online videos with exam tips, all presented by experienced teachers.
Tengku Zafrul expressed that the aim is to narrow the education achievement gap and provide students with access to structured, quality, and inclusive learning support. He shared these insights at the YTZA Kirana Budi event, also attended by Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek and YTZA chairman Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda.
YTZA also ensures that students attending tuition classes are provided with lunch and sponsors breakfast for all 2026 SPM candidates at the 10 participating schools on every examination day. These schools include Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pandan Indah, SMK Pandan Mewah, SMK Taman Seraya, SMK Pandan Jaya, and SMK Taman Tasik, among others.
Tengku Zafrul, who also serves as the Prime Minister's senior political adviser, mentioned that the programme includes the 'Pemangkin Membina Laluan Kerjaya Masa Depan' SPM seminar. This seminar is conducted at all participating schools throughout September to broaden candidates' perspectives on post-SPM pathways, further education options, and career opportunities.
The ACE SPM programme was initially launched in late 2024 as a one-off assistance to prepare candidates for that year's SPM examination. It expanded to 10 schools in Selangor in 2025, with a budget of RM300,000. In 2025, the programme provided 467 candidates with five months of free tuition, benefiting over 4,000 students with access to learning materials and additional academic support.
Established in 2022, YTZA is a non-governmental organisation focused on addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges through initiatives aimed at education, poverty eradication, environmental conservation, and community well-being.