Parents and students in the dark

Hoping for clarity: (From left) Harveen, Uma Devi, Nur Nizar and Vigneesh are among those who are anxious about the uncertainties concerning SPM.

GEORGE TOWN: With two months to go, parents and students are still in the dark over the lack of clear information pertaining to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination scheduled to be held in January.

Questions such as when the results will be out, how to apply for matriculation programmes, whether the exams this year will be tough, what if the pandemic continues, and whether trial examination results will be used instead, are among the concerns.

Human resources officer Uma Devi Krishnan, whose 17-year-old son Harveen Marimuthu studies in a secondary school in Bukit Gambir, said the Education Ministry should be more forthcoming with answers about issues regarding what happens after the exams.

“How are they going to handle the delays in the examination? How are the students going to enrol for matriculation programmes or colleges and when exactly the results will be announced?

“There is already a lot of pressure on students and parents due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Students have to study online and tuition classes are being cancelled due to social distancing measures.

“Will the exams be tough this year? If yes, then it will further burden the students as they had limited studying time.

“My son had complained that they could not complete the syllabus, ” said the 45-year-old who works in a multinational company.

Farmer Nur Nizam Zakaria, 47, said he was concerned over the new examination date, but also believed it would be for the best as his son would have more time to study.

“It is a stressful time for us as parents, but I am sure the government is doing all it can for the good of the students, ” he said.

Nur Nizam’s son, Nur Nizar Naim, 17, studies in a national school in Kedah.

Nur Nizar said he was taking tuition classes for at least seven subjects and was not involved in online classes.

“I am confident that I will do well. But there is still the anxiety of not being fully prepared as there are a lot of changes at school due to the pandemic, ” he added.

Student Vigneesh Gopal, 17, said he had mixed feelings about the new examination date.

“We have been doing online classes for a long time and I found them to be good as we could look at the recording for revision unlike in the classroom where we would have missed certain points.

“My only worry is what will happen next year as we are still in the dark over when the results will be out or if we will be using the trial examination results if the pandemic continues, ” he said.