KUALA LUMPUR – Most students who sat for the SPM History paper yesterday are feeling short-changed when a video was shared on TikTok and Facebook, showing a teacher allegedly sharing topics and questions before the exam took place.
This is not the first time the SPM History paper encountered controversy. In 2016, students faced the possibility of a resit after questions were allegedly leaked.
Then deputy education minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan denied the allegations and the students did not have to resit the exam.
However, this time around, the topics allegedly shared by a teacher appear in History Paper 2, prompting frustration among students, many of whom had studied long hours in preparation as it is a compulsory subject for SPM.
A source at a private tuition centre said based on conversations with her students, the TikTok video appeared just before the exam started at 9.30am.
She added that the students were not allowed to take home the question paper, which is a common practice.
Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the Education Ministry cannot just dismiss the alleged leak as there is a video and the ministry should try to trace its origin.
“This could become a police case and should involve the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, who is responsible for the monitoring of such information, if obtained illegally, and its dissemination.”
She said a resit may be too much for the students, who are mentally affected by months of online teaching.
Two teachers, who chose to remain anonymous, said they did not receive the video until late yesterday but still felt it was demoralising for those who spent long hours on online learning, only to know that some topics and questions were allegedly leaked.
Another teacher, who wished to be known as Pushpa, said History being a compulsory subject may have put pressure on the teacher in the viral video but felt that the ministry should investigate the matter as it sends a wrong message to students.
“Students should not be made to feel that such incidents are tolerated by the ministry.
“A clear message should be sent that such incidents will not be tolerated and if there is proof, the persons involved should be brought to justice.”
The ministry, when contacted, declined to comment but said the matter is under investigation and a statement will be issued later. – The Vibes, February 25, 2021
