SPM candidates face a unique set of challenges as exams start nationwide

The 175 candidates at SMK Putrajaya Presint 8(1) waiting to enter the examination hall.

PUTRAJAYA: A sombre mood amid pin drop silence filled the air as SPM 2021 candidates at a school here walked past their school gate to sit for their much awaited exam.

With visible nervousness plastered on their faces, the 175 candidates at SMK Putrajaya Presint 8(1) walked silently towards the waiting hall as they scanned their temperature, gave their teachers their Covid-19 screening declaration form, their identification documents and examination registration form before entering the exam hall.

The candidates pored over their notes while maintaining a physical distance as they waited to be called into the hall.

These were among the standard operating procedures they had to follow under their schools’ watchful eyes to monitor their compliance throughout the exam period, as Malaysia continues to record Covid-19 numbers in the five digits.

Checks by The Star at several schools revealed that the majority of candidates showed up in school between 6.50am to 7am.

Putrajaya education department director Farizah Ahmad said a total of 1,797 candidates in Putrajaya would be sitting for the SPM 2021 exams.

Of this number, 46 had been tested positive for Covid-19, while 22 were close contacts and 19 were not vaccinated.

She said the unvaccinated candidates had health problems.

The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2021 written exams would run from Wednesday (March 2) to March 29, with a total of 407,097 candidates.

The Education Ministry had appointed 50,514 invigilators to conduct the exam at 3,382 examination centres nationwide.

It also reminded candidates to refer to the examination timetable which could be downloaded from www.lp.moe.gov.my.

Candidates affected by the floods in Kelantan and Terengganu, the ministry said in a statement yesterday (March 1), could proceed to another examination centre or sit for the paper at a later date.

The ministry said affected candidates should contact their class teacher, examination secretary or principal for further information.