Fit exam candidates only

 

PARENTS and candidates of the upcoming public examinations must ensure that they are Covid-19-free before entering the exam hall to curb the spread of the virus.

Education director-general Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim said the ministry has prepared a standard operating procedure on what needs to be done for those who are healthy, have symptoms or are under quarantine.

“Those who do not attend school physically in the lead up to the exams will still be allowed to sit for it, provided they are well.

“Students, including those categorised as close contacts to a positive case, cannot sit for the paper until they have been confirmed to be healthy.

“Candidates who are confirmed (Covid-19) positive or who are quarantined will not be allowed to sit for the exams.

“They can resume sitting for their exams after they have completed their quarantine and

are free of the virus, ” she said, adding that students who are quarantined for Covid-19 or fall sick will sit for papers they missed at a later date.

She was referring to candidates who will be sitting for the 2020 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, Sijil Vokasional Malaysia, Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia, Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia, Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia and Diploma Vokasional Malaysia as well as other international level examinations certified by the ministry. The examinations begin on Feb 22.

“They need to present a letter from the Health Ministry or their doctor proving that they are under quarantine or have tested positive before being allowed to defer the papers.

“These candidates will sit for a different set of papers that have the same standard as the original set taken by other candidates.

“Those who are healthy will definitely be sitting for their papers as scheduled, ” she told a virtual press conference on Jan 22.

Habibah added that the quarantine period was about 14 days while the examinations would take place over a month.

“Once they are better, they can sit for the other papers that are still going on.

“The ministry will arrange a separate session for them to take the papers (they missed) at a later date, ” she said, adding that the dates would be announced later.

Habibah said the arrangement would not affect the timeline for the results to be released as the ministry would shorten the time it takes to mark the papers. - Star