Students with virus symptoms can take SPM: Radzi Jidin

Students sitting the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), which starts on Monday, can take the examination even if they have Covid-19 symptoms, said Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.

He said they will be separated from the main group and sit their papers in a special room allocated for symptomatic pupils.

Those who record body temperatures of above 37.5°C will have to fill a form declaring their exposure to Covid-19-positive persons.

“If previously there was only one examination hall, now we have several other rooms too.

“For instance, there will be a special room for asymptomatic students who have to be isolated from the rest of the exam candidates,” he said in a live interview on DidikTV today.

When asked to clarify, Radzi said: “For example, if a student’s temperature is 36°C but he is coughing and it is felt there is a risk, there will be a dedicated room for these students.”

Additionally, Radzi said there will be another isolation room in case a student taking the examination with the rest of the main group is identified as a risk.

He said there will also be an alternative hall in case the main SPM hall needs to be sanitised, in addition to a transit room to allow students to wait for their evening papers, adding that to minimise movement, students will be required to eat in the exam halls during recess.

For students under quarantine and unable to sit the SPM on the designated dates, Radzi said a separate session will be held for them, the dates of which will be announced later.

In January, New Straits Times had reported the Education Ministry as saying that symptomatic students, along with those under quarantine and Covid-19 patients, will be barred from SPM and have to sit to take the exams at another session.

Meanwhile, Radzi said the ministry will also increase the number of teachers who will be marking examination papers to ensure results can be released as soon as possible, after months of delays.

For the first time, the minister said the marking for all subjects except Arts and Visual will also be done online.

“We want to ensure results can be out quickly and on time, so that children are able to further their studies,” he said, referring to student’s registration for universities.

“In total, SPM this year will involve close to 50,000 teachers from various levels, including as facilitators and markers.” – The Vibes