SPM GOES ON IN FLOOD-HIT SCHOOLS
However, students from Penang school will change to new venue starting today
KUALA LUMPUR
THE Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination proceeded well on its first day with only minor disruptions in flood-hit schools yesterday. This year’s SPM involved 443, 883 candidates nationwide, with the first paper being Bahasa Melayu paper 1.
Bernama reported that 3,363 centres were opened for the examination, which will end on Dec 4.
Despite the floods, the examination in Penang proceeded for 23,114 candidates at 159 centres, and in Kedah, for 34,672 candidates at 261 centres.
Affected candidates were sent to their examination centres in vehicles provided by the police, Civil Defence Force and private individuals.
Other candidates who were in similar predicament were advised to contact their school or the district education office.
The candidates might be allowed to sit for the examination at another school if their own was inundated.
In Penang, 180 SPM candidates at SMK Datuk Haji Ahmad Said would have to sit the examination at SMK Desa Murni from today.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said the venue had to be changed as floods had yet to recede at SMK Datuk Haji Ahmad Said.
“SMK Datuk Haji Ahmad Said is still flooded and the rain continued earlier today (yesterday). Our priority is the safety of the students,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Kamalanathan said the Penang education director changed the venue after taking into account safety factors.
He said the change was only effective from today as the department needed to sort out logistical issues and make arrangements to accommodate SMK Datuk Haji Ahmad Said students at the new venue.
In Kedah, the first day of SPM ran smoothly for all candidates in flood-hit areas.
At SMK Bedong in Sungai Petani, all 318 SPM candidates were present to take the examination despite the school being inundated.
School senior assistant G.R. Chandrasegaran said the examination had to be held on the second floor of the school building as there was still mud on the ground floor.