According to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, students preparing for this year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam need not worry because measures have been taken to guarantee they can continue with their studies even in the event of flooding.
According to her, one of the measures is to have candidates who are moved to temporary evacuation centres (PPS) take their exams there.After yesterday’s launch ceremony for the preparations, Fadhlina told reporters, “Since the SPM examinations begin on Dec 5, this preparation process (for the northeast monsoon) also includes the preparation for SPM.”
She added that plans have also been made to move dorm-dwelling students to PPS in the event that it becomes necessary.
“We have prepared detailed instructions for about seven or eight schools, which will be transformed into permanent transfer centres (pusat pemindahan kekal). There are currently 5,063 schools that have been gazetted as PPS,” the spokesperson continued.
Preliminary measures for the monsoon, according to a statement released by the Education Ministry yesterday, included giving plastic chairs and tables to schools that were at risk of flooding, supplying volunteer kits for cleaning up after floods in affected schools, and collaborating with major disaster management organisations like the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), the Malaysian Meteorology Department (MetMalaysia), the Social Welfare Department, and the Health Ministry.
According to the ministry, there will be four to six monsoon episodes that bring with them continuous rainfall and the possibility of flooding, particularly in the western region of Sarawak and along the east coast of the peninsula.
Strong monsoon rains or the presence of a low-pressure system in the area can cause continuous rain in states along the west coast. It also stated, “People are encouraged to stay vigilant, especially during these periods, and to stay updated on MetMalaysia’s weather forecasts and warnings.”
Regarding a different issue, Fadhlina stated that her ministry is setting up the SPM exam schedule so that the school year will begin in January again.”We’ll move forward as scheduled, coordinating the schedule with our priorities to guarantee that it reverts to January.”
