‘Lack of recovery time affects students’ mental health’

PETALING JAYA: Making SPM students sit for three papers in a day could have a negative impact on their performance.

They will not have enough time to rest, recharge, revise and give their best in such a “high stakes” exam, said Malaysia Mental Health Association president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj.

The proposed SPM timetable, he added, would not bring out the best in otherwise top performers or reflect the academic standards and capability of Form Five students.

He said the proposed timetable was not well thought out as it did not simulate the process of learning and retrieval of facts and concepts.

“Without adequate physical and mental rest in between papers, the resulting stress and anxiety can lead to an emotionally-driven, non-logical thought process during the exam.

“This can cause what’s commonly known as a ‘blank mind’. The student may even develop anxiety before the exams, which further aggravates the situation,” he said.

He added that a good student who would have otherwise done well may feel so disappointed with his or her exam results that it could lead to frustration.

“Because of the guilt of having disappointed their parents, they might resort to self-harming acts like cutting themselves, or suicide,” Dr Mohanraj said.

But he noted that a little stress could also bring out the best in most people, who would otherwise take a lackadaisical attitude towards exams and life in general.

“All exams are stressful, but the Examination Syndicate must ask itself what is it trying to achieve by making students sit for three papers in a day.

“Depriving students of adequate rest and time to revise before the next paper brings too much stress. That’s bad and undesirable for their mental health,” he added.