DENGKIL, Dec 4 — Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said there is no need to hold a second session for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam based on the encouraging attendance of candidates for the Bahasa Melayu oral test.
She said the overall attendance was 99 per cent as of yesterday, indicating the smooth running of Op Payung for rescue purposes and ensuring candidates could attend despite being affected by floods.
“Why do we need a second session when we can only have one session? So yesterday I stressed in the Dewan Rakyat that our preparations for facing this flood are under Op Payung.
“We activate Op Payung every year when faced with flood disaster issues and it is the full strength of the government agency machinery to implement all guidelines during floods,” she said.
She told the media after the groundbreaking ceremony for two public primary schools in Bandar Gamuda Cove here today.
Also present were Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh and Gamuda chairman Tan Sri Ambrin Buang.
Fadhlina said the Education Ministry (MOE) was satisfied with the implementation of SPM, which entered its third day after the evacuation and emotional recovery phase.
“On the third day, our candidates faced the oral exam and it went very well. Our next preparations is for the second wave (of floods) next week, so we will focus on that,” she said.
She said preparations will continue to be focused on the Science practical test and the English oral test.
Meanwhile, Fadhlina said the Education Ministry is identifying candidates unable to attend the Bahasa Melayu oral test so they can take the test tomorrow.
“There is no question of a second session as we have been able to arrange it so far with the situation, and the capabilities of our officers and agencies to ensure everything runs smoothly,” she said.
A total of 402,956 candidates are registered to sit the SPM this year.
The Malay oral test started on Monday and ends tomorrow, while the Science practical test will be held on December 9, 10 and 12.
This will be followed by the English oral test on December 16,17,18, and 19, and Bahasa Melayu and English listening tests on December 31.
The written exam will be held from January 2 to February 6.
— Bernama
