THE Education Ministry is ready to face any flood that may occur during the three major examinations which start next month, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.
He said the disaster management committee led by education director-general Tan Sri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof has drawn up measures to ensure that students could sit for the examinations.
“We have identified the areas at risk of flooding, and state education directors will undertake the measures outlined,” he told reporters when met at the Teacher Education Institute (IPG) Darulaman campus here last Monday.
The examinations are Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3), Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM).
On another matter, Mahdzir said the intake of IPG trainees was based on projected vacancies in schools nationwide to prevent a surplus of teachers.
“For example, about 14,000 teachers will retire this year. The intake of trainees by IPG is based on the needs of students,” he added.
On another matter, Mahdzir said five schools in the country have been accredited under the International Baccalaureate World School (IB World School) – Middle Years Programme by International Baccalaureate, the world’s leading education accreditation body.
The four day schools are SMK Sungai Tapang, Samarahan, Sarawak, SMK Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar, Kedah, SMK Putrajaya Presint 9 (2), Putrajaya and SMK Pantai, Labuan, as well as one residential school, the Malay College Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
He said the five were among 28 government schools in five countries in the Asia-Pacific region accredited as IB World School, apart from Australia (16), China (5), Japan (1) and Hong Kong (1).
Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate is a non-profit educational foundation offering four programmes of international education that develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills needed to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalising world.
“Via this programme, the students are trained to become more active, have a tendency for lifelong learning, prioritise participation in social activities and group projects, and would be able to compete in a challenging world,” he told reporters after presenting the IB World School accreditation certificate to SMK Sultanah Bahiyah at the school here last Monday.
The ministry expects three more schools to receive accreditation from the international body based in Geneva, Switzerland, by the end of this year.
Another five schools picked to join the programme are Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, Negri Sembilan; SM Sains Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, Kota Baru, Kelantan; SMK Seri Tualang, Temerloh, Pahang; SMK Dato’ Sheikh Ahmad, Arau, Perlis and SMK Agama Sheikh Abdul Malek in Kuala Terengganu. — Bernama