ALOR SETAR, Dec 2 — Flood-affected 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates are allowed to stay in hostels until the situation improves, making it easier for them to sit for the examination, which begins today and runs until February next year.
Education Ministry (MOE) secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi said the decision was made to ensure that flood-affected candidates can sit for the examination as scheduled.
“In Kedah, there are 28,953 SPM candidates, and of that total, only 532 were affected by floods in several districts. Today, 7,000 candidates are sitting for the Bahasa Melayu Oral Test at 264 examination centres across 204 schools.
“For the affected candidates, we are also allowing them to sit for their examinations at other schools. For instance, 81 students from SMA Darul Saadah have been placed at SMK Agama Kedah,” he told the press after visiting the SPM examination centre at SMK Tunku Abdul Malik today.
Ruji added that flood-affected candidates staying in hostels will receive counselling, psychological support, and academic assistance.
The MOE and State Education Departments have also developed contingency plans to ensure the 2024 SPM examination proceeds smoothly in the event of floods.
“The floods in Kedah also disrupted school operations in four districts, namely Kota Setar, Kubang Pasu, Padang Terap, and Sik. Of the more than 700 primary and secondary schools in the state, 50 have been turned into temporary relief centres (PPS), and 15 have been completely closed.
“It is true that some are worried, saying that students are not ready for the SPM because of the floods, but everything is going smoothly,” he said.
As of 12pm today, 7,871 people from 2,339 families have been relocated to 45 PPS across Kota Setar, Kubang Pasu, Pokok Sena, Sik, and Padang Terap.
— Bernama
