A total of 470,395 candidates sat for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2013 at 3,616 examination centres throughout the country beginning today until Dec 5.

According to a statement from the Education Ministry’s Examination Syndicate, of the total, 415,509 candidates were from government schools, government-aided schools and Government-Aided Religious Schools.

A total of 8,054 candidates were from schools under the government agencies besides the Education Ministry such as the Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM); 8,325 candidates from Sekolah Menengah Agama Negeri; 11,261 candidates from private schools registered with the Education Ministry; 25,857 candidates from private schools; and 1,389 candidates from the Sekolah Menengah Agama Rakyat.

At the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Taman Setiawangsa and SMK Seksyen 5, Wangsa Maju, a check by Bernama revealed that the candidates had made a smart choice by coming to school early to avoid the traffic jams.

There were also several candidates who appeared to take the opportunity to make last-minute references with their friends before sitting for the examination.

Candidates were required to be seated in the examination room or hall as early as 7.50am to listen to the briefing and fill up their personal details on the answer sheets, ie, 10 minutes before the examination started.

Today, the candidates were required to sit for two subjects, namely Bahasa Melayu and Visual Art Education for candidates taking the papers.

108 exam centres in Terengganu

In KUALA TERENGGANU, 22,483 candidates sat for the SPM throughout the state.

The director of the state Education Department (JPNT), Zakaria Hussien, said that 180 examination centres were opened throughout the state for the SPM involving 1,513 invigilators.

“Fifty-eight SPM candidates were Candidates With Special Requirement (CBK). We provide special examination papers according to the requirements of the candidates and gave them an additional half-an-hour,” he said when approached by reporters at the Sekolah Menengah Ibrahim Fikri in Kuala Terengganu.

He also disclosed that 10 SPM candidates were sitting for the examination at the Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ) while another candidate was sitting for the examination at the Dungun Hospital.

In another development, Zakaria said a candidate who was supposed to sit for the SPM (automotive stream), Mohd Nor Alif Harun, 17, from the SMK Sultan Omar in Dungun, died this morning after being in a coma for five days following a road accident.

“He was admitted to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at the HSNZ on Friday and died this morning,” he said.

In JOHOR BARU, 57,090 SPM candidates sat for the exam at 382 examination centres statewide.

Johor Education director Mohd Nor A Ghani said 51,170 of the candidates were from public schools, 2,836 from private schools, 751 were from Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM), 121 candidates from Sekolah Menengah Agama Negeri and 2,212 were independent candidates.

“This year, there are nine SPM candidates at Sekolah Menengah Integriti, Kluang and 19 candidates at Sekolah Menengah Integriti, Muar. They are private candidates, he told Bernama today.

He said 290 public and private schools were involved in the examination this year, with 3,682 invigilators appointed to ensure its smooth flow.

37,915 candidates in Kedah

In ALOR SETAR, a total of 37,915 candidates sat for the SPM examination in 280 centres in the state.

State Education director Mansor Lat said 32,883 were from the secondary day schools, Mara Junior Science Colleges (960 candidates), Maktab Mahmud (religious school) (775 candidates), Sekolah Agama Rakyat (981), private schools (330) and 1,990 private candidates.

He said 82 special education candidates and 16 candidates from Sekolah Integriti Sungai Petani were sitting for the exam, while 12 candidates were quarantined in the hospital.

A total of 10 candidates were sitting for their exams in rehabilitation centres, he told reporters during at visit to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jitra.

In KOTA KINABALU, a total of 40,653 candidates sat for their exams at 336 centres in the state.

From this number, 34,638 were candidates from government-aided schools, 4,210 private candidates, 1,292 from private schools and 495 candidates from Mara Junior Science colleges and state-aided religious secondary schools.

Sabah Education Department director Jame Alip said they also had a contingency plan ready to face floods in the state.

Among the areas the flood-prone areas are Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Beaufort, Penampang, Inanam and several coastal areas such as Keningau.

A total of 1,070 candidates sat for the exam at 11 centres in the Federal Territory of Labuan.

In KOTA BARU, Kelantan Education director Hussein Awang said 34,217 candidates sat for their exams at 291 centres statewide.

He said 27,048 students were from government schools, Yayasan Islam Kelantan (4,972 candidates), private schools (123 candidates) and 2,049 private candidates.

“There are 22 Special Needs candidates,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Besides that, one candidate was sitting for the exam at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital and another at the Pangkalan Chepa Prison.

10 students in Malacca taking exams in hospitals

In MALACCA, a total of 15,675 candidates sat for the examination including 10 students who were taking their exams in five hospitals in the state.

Malacca Education Department director Kasim Mohamad said of the total, 13,740 were from national secondary schools, government-aided religious schools, fully residential schools and technical schools while 757 were from Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM), 102 private school candidates and 1,076 private candidates.

“This year, the exam involves 76 schools under the Education Ministry, with 39 from Melaka Tengah, 19 in Alor Gajah and 18 in Jasin as well as three MRSM and two private schools,” he said when contacted today.

He said 1,099 invigilators were on duty at 109 examination centres throughout Malacca to ensure the smooth flow of the SPM exams this year.

In NEGRI SEMBILAN, 19,948 candidates sat for the exams.

State Education director Kalsom Khalid said 17,881 were Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan students, Mara Junior Science College (515), Sekolah Menengah Agama Negeri (137), private schools (480) and private candidates (935).  

“A total of 13 candidates sat for their exams in several hospitals in the state while six candidates used computers, while 121 were disabled. This time around, the exams involve 150 centres,” he said.

Some 1,313 invigilators are on duty at examination centres in the state.

In KUCHING, a total of 38,725 SPM candidates sat for exams at 268 centres.

According to the State Education Department, 36,223 candidates were from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) while the remaining were candidates from private schools (699) and private candidates (1,803).

A total of 179 invigilators and 2,117 prefects were appointed to help out with the exam process.

- Bernama