PETALING JAYA: Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2021 candidates affected by the floods in Kelantan and Terengganu can proceed to another examination centre or sit for the paper at a later date.

       The Education Ministry said affected candidates should contact their class teacher, examination secretary or principal for further information.

       The school would then help the candidate locate a different examination centre that was accessible or register them for the rescheduled paper.

       However, the original examination centre would have to be informed if any candidate chooses a different venue.

       "The ministry’s Examination Board is always monitoring the situation of affected examination centres and has prepared an action plan to ensure that SPM candidates in 2021 can sit for the examination in an orderly and safe manner," the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday (March 1).

       "The management of examination centres affected by the floods is implemented in accordance with the provisions of the circular on Preparing for Floods That Threaten the Examination Course No.1/2001," it added.

       The Examination Board had also prepared specific guidelines for the management of examination centres during floods that covers school and examination centre management, examination candidates, staff as well as exam vault management.

       For example, if floods caused a candidate to arrive late to the examination centre but within 30 minutes of the start, they would be allowed to sit for the examination and be given replacement time.

       If a candidate was more than 30 minutes late, they would be allowed to sit for the examination at a later date, it added.

       Candidates living in the school hostel would proceed with the SPM as usual.

       Schools or examination centres that were submerged could move candidates to a nearby school as an alternative examination centre.

       If there was no school available to be used as an alternative centre, the candidate would sit for the rescheduled examination.

       The school principal or class teacher would be responsible for informing the candidate about the change in centre.

       Alternatively, candidates or guardians may contact the respective state Education Department Assessment and Examination Sector, district Education Office, principal or class teacher to get the latest information on examination centres.

       If a school was only partially affected by floods, it remained an examination centre, either in an area not affected – on higher ground or upper floors, for example.

       Schools turned into relief centres were exempted from being examination centres.

       However, if there was no choice, the SPM needed to be held in a building far from the relief centre.

       The SPM 2021 written examination starts on Wednesday (March 2) and ends on March 29.