SPM 2015 to go on as scheduled even with haze - Mahdzir

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2015 will go on as scheduled even though there are no signs of the current haze situation improving.

He said the SPM exams which will begin on Nov 2 cannot be postponed just to accommodate the very small percentage of students who face respiratory issues during haze.

“Cannot be postponed as SPM involves some 400,000 candidates,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby today.

However, he said the Education Ministry is contemplating of setting up special rooms for SPM candidates who face respiratory issues during haze.

He said the schools know the number of their students who have health issues during haze and they will take action if the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings are still high.

On schools that demand its staff to come to work although schools have been ordered to close by the ministry, Mahdzir said it depended on the school headmaster’s discretion.

“This is more of a voluntary exercise, as with the exams nearing, there are many things to be completed in schools. If both parties agree then it is okay. If not, then cannot,” he said.

The ministry had ordered schools in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Samarahan (Sarawak), Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kunak (Sabah) and Muar, Ledang and Segamat (Johor) to close on Tuesday (Oct 20) due to the worsening haze.

This affects 3,029 schools and 1,909,842 students.