All systems go for public exams

PUTRAJAYA: All public examinations for 2023/2024 will proceed as scheduled despite the northeast monsoon season, says Fadhlina Sidek.

The Education Minister said her ministry remains vigilant on the ongoing flood situation and is ready with a standard operating procedure and appropriate preparation measures.

This includes working with relevant government agencies to ensure that examinations can be carried out according to schedule.

“A total of 4,058 candidates sat for the Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) examinations yesterday.

“As at 2pm on Jan 1, no STAM candidates were in temporary evacuation centres (PPS) due to the floods,” she told a special media conference here yesterday.

Fadhlina added that only one candidate sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, which would commence next Monday, is still located in a PPS in Johor.

Meanwhile, four Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination centres in Pahang, Kelantan and Johor are expected to be at risk of being hit by floods.

This is according to reports received from the assessment and examination sector of the state Education Department until Jan 1.

Fadhlina said it will involve 197 students who will be sitting for their STPM examinations starting from Jan 9.

“For STPM candidates and examination centres affected by floods, the Malaysian Examinations Council (MPM) and the state Education Department will use the same guidelines issued on preparations and actions to deal with floods.

“As at Jan 1, no candidates sitting for the STPM exams were in any PPS,” she said.

Fadhlina added that as at 8pm on Jan 1, 161 educational institutions – comprising 136 primary schools, 24 secondary schools and one Permata centre – had been affected by the floods from Nov 11 last year.

This was an increase in the number of educational institutions affected by the floods as at 4pm on Jan 1, from 157, which comprises 133 primary schools, 23 secondary schools and one Permata centre.

She said eight states were affected: Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu, Selangor, Sabah, Sarawak, Johor and Perak.

During the same period, she said 207 educational institutions under the ministry in 10 states, namely, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Selangor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Johor, Kedah and Sabah, were turned into PPS, including 173 primary schools, 33 secondary schools and one vocational college.

She also said all schools affected by the floods or turned into PPS reopened yesterday.

“However, a primary school located in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, continues to serve as a PPS, where two pupils are currently seeking shelter,” she said.

Fadhlina said the ministry estimates the damage incurred by educational institutions due to the floods has exceeded RM1mil.

She said initial reports involved damage to furniture, fences, buildings and immovable assets in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

“Estimates of the damage to educational institutions are being collected, and the state education departments and district education offices have taken appropriate measures to ensure that schools can operate,” she said.

She added that her ministry had made takaful claims for students who were reported to have drowned in Kelantan.

“The takaful claim of RM5,500 per person will be handed to the victim’s family.

“Schools affected by floods and that have been converted into PPS will be given assistance of RM2,000 by Yayasan Guru Tun Hussein Onn,” she said.