The Malaysian Ministry of Education has announced the postponement of two major secondary school examinations, the Sijil Pelajaran Menengah (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), as well as the cancellation of the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3)
Education Minister Radzi Jidin said the SPM examination for 2020 will be held in the first quarter of next year. “For STPM candidates, the Semester 2 examination date has been changed to August 2020, while the Semester 3 examination will be held in the first quarter of 2021,” he said.
Radzi said the new examination dates would also mean new dates for university intakes.
The ministry would introduce an alternative method to evaluate students who are supposed to sit for the UPSR and PT3 examinations. “The cancellation of UPSR will not affect the students’ evaluation as evaluations can be carried out through various other methods,” said Radzi.
“The cancellation of UPSR will not affect the students’ evaluation as evaluations can be carried out through various other methods,”
“Seeing as UPSR results are one of the criteria for entrance into boarding schools, Islamic instruction secondary schools, Mara Junior Science Colleges and the Royal Military College, the education ministry will introduce new methods which are not solely focused on academics,” he added.
He said the same measures would be applied for PT3 to ensure students are able to enrol in hostels and technical schools.
On the effect of postponing SPM and STPM on admission to institutes of higher learning, Radzi said the higher education ministry had agreed to postpone enrolment into basic, matriculation and diploma programmes until July or August 2021 and degree programmes to September or October 2021.
Schools in the country have been closed since March 14 due to the first term holidays and the movement control order (MCO) which started on March 18 and has been extended to April 28.
He said it remained uncertain when schools could reopen but assured that his ministry is looking at implementing social distancing in all classrooms.
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