Disappointing SPM 2021 Schedule

 

The schedule of SPM 2021 which is planned to be carried out in March 2022 has been announced by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Examinations Board (LP). However, the schedule arranged is very packed, which results in great pressure faced suffered by both teachers and SPM 2021 candidates.

 

In previous SPM schedules, examinations will only be carried out from Monday to Thursday. This arrangement is very suitable as Fridays and Saturdays are weekends for Group A schools meanwhile Saturdays and Sundays are weekends for Group B schools.

 

The SPM 2021 schedule is disappointing based on the following reasons:

 

1. Candidates need to face examinations on Fridays and Sundays

2. Invigilators need to carry out their duty on Fridays and Sundays

3. There are examinations for 6 days in a row

4. The listening test for Bahasa Melayu and English is carried out on Saturday (19 February 2022)

 

Teachers especially those who are invigilators face a big amount of stress with such a packed schedule. They are required to be on duty at the examination venue almost every day to ensure that the examination goes on smoothly. There are even invigilators who are parents of SPM 2021 candidates. This has further increased their burden during the examination season.

 

From the candidates’ aspect, if there’s a candidate who takes elective subjects which includes Prinsip Perakaunan and Additional Mathematics other than compulsory subjects, the candidate needs to face examinations for consecutive 6 days (schedule stated after this paragraph). This arrangement cannot be accepted by both candidates and teachers.

 

6 March – Prinsip Perakaunan

7 March – English

8 March – Sejarah

9 March – Additional Mathematics

10 March – Mathematics

11 March – Pendidikan Moral / Pendidikan Islam

 

SPM 2021 candidates are a batch of students that faced a lot of academic pressure since primary school. The barriers faced by them include:

 

1. Being MoE's ‘white rats’ in studying the new KSSR and KSSM syllabus

2. Often face different and uncertain examination and evaluation formats

3. Having online distance learning (PdPR) for almost 2 years

4. Lack of face to face guidance by teachers and are needed to face trial examinations soon

5. Lack of electronic devices for certain candidates especially those who are underprivileged

 

I would like to thank YB Dr Maszlee Malik, Member of Parliament for Simpang Renggam cum Chairman of Parliament Special Select Committee on Education for his concern towards this issue. The examination schedule must be reviewed and revised again by MoE and LP. This is important to reduce the burden faced by teachers especially invigilators and ensure that students can carry out the examination comfortably.

 

Source: Brandon Loo Zhe Yu