[UPDATED] SPM 2021 to begin February next year

KUALA LUMPUR – The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) for 2021 will be held from February 2022 onwards, said Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.

Radzi said the oral and practical components for the Science paper will be held in February next year while written examinations will be held in March.

He expressed confidence that the ministry’s experience in organising SPM 2020 will ensure that the examination runs smoothly.

“For the first time in the nation’s history, we conducted online marking for more than five million exam papers submitted. This is because teachers tasked with marking the papers could not congregate due to the pandemic.”

Also, certificates that in the past took five to six months after exam results were out, were ready a month after the SPM 2020 results were released, he said.

“The Examinations Board was able to provide the SPM results in a shorter time despite all the challenges. This is also taking into account that we had two exam sittings – a second one for students who could not attend because they were observing quarantine,” he said during an online press conference today.

“The SOPs the board drew up were detailed. For example, the tables were 1.5m apart, more exam halls and rooms were set up, and students were only allowed to have lunch in the classrooms. We also had large rooms set up for students who may have been displaying symptoms.

“We had more than 48,000 invigilators to ensure things ran smoothly and on time.”

He added that SPM 2020 is testament to a litany of improvements made by the ministry in operating during a pandemic.

He was asked to respond to a statement issued by Pakatan Harapan’s education committee 30 minutes before his press conference began.

The opposition coalition called for proper management and coordination of students who will be sitting for their SPM and SPMV exams this year as to avoid the mistakes made during SPM 2020.

“The mistakes and failings of the management of SPM 2020 during the pandemic have caused unnecessary mental and physical stress on students, teachers, and also parents.

“Although complaints and worries flooded news outlets and social media platforms on the matter, there was no reassurance or information coming from the education minister or his deputies.

“Mistakes like that cannot happen again for the students sitting for the SPM and SPMV exams in 2021,” it said in the statement.

“Repeating the same mistakes over and over again without an initiative to avoid it and improve the situation is a symbol of failure of a government.

“The mentality of staying quiet and disregarding the voice of the people and stakeholders is also a sign of a failed government.”

The committee added that students sitting for SPM 2021 also face added pressure as they are the pilot group to follow the High School Standard Curriculum (KSSM) that was introduced in 2017. The new cohort’s SPM format was announced last year. 

“This new introduction has caused delays following the pandemic, and students sitting for the 2021 exams will have a harder challenge compared with the students in 2020,” it said in the statement.

“If the government failed to handle the SPM and SPMV crisis last year due to the lack of experience in a crisis situation, it can be understood. But if the same mistakes are repeated and decisions are made slowly, ministers and their deputies in the Education Ministry have no more excuses.”

During his event today, he also announced that schools have been directed to continue online learning for another 25 days until the mid-term break next month.

The ministry will make further announcements following the break between July 16/17 and 24/25, depending on the Covid-19 situation. – The Vibes, June 6, 2021