Why SPM should be postponed for flood-affected students

From Azmi Rasheed Khan

As Malaysia faces its annual battle with the monsoon floods, people’s lives are being uprooted, with their sense of security washed away.

Amid this overwhelming adversity, a crucial question arises – should the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination be postponed in areas severely affected by floods?

Thousands of students across the country are struggling due to the impact of the floods. Many areas in villages, towns and cities are submerged in water, leaving homes destroyed and families displaced. These are not just physical calamities but also emotional and psychological ones.

For many students, their homes are their sanctuaries – places where they feel safe, where they can study and grow. Yet, for the past few weeks, these children have been facing disorienting realities of losing not only their homes but also the resources they depend on for their studies such as books and stationery.

These students are therefore not mentally or emotionally prepared to sit for a high-stakes examination like SPM.

In this time of crisis, the focus should be on healing and recovery, not on forcing students into examination halls when their minds are not at ease. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and the psychological impact of the floods on students should not be dismissed.

Postponing the SPM for students in affected areas not only gives them time to recover emotionally but also helps them regain focus and confidence.

It is therefore unfathomable that the education ministry would insist that the exam proceed as scheduled.

Beyond the emotional toll, the logistics of conducting the exam during floods are fraught with challenges. In flood-prone areas like Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah, some roads are impassable, transportation is severely limited and schools have been turned into temporary evacuation centres. As such, moving students from their homes to examination centres poses an immense logistical challenge.

Some schools have to be closed due to floods. If the exam continues as scheduled, many students will be at a disadvantage compared with their peers in less-affected areas.

The reality is that some of the flood-affected students may not even have the basic supplies they need to sit the exam. With homes destroyed, many families are struggling to replace essential materials like stationery, calculators and textbooks.

Even the most basic necessities required for an examination such as writing tools or official documents, may be out of reach for students living in the hardest-hit areas. This only adds to the emotional burden they are already carrying.

Health risks are another major concern. With floodwaters come waterborne diseases and other health risks which could severely affect students’ health and their concentration.

The authorities, in particular the education ministry, must ensure that students are in their best physical and mental state before sitting for such a significant exam.

If the current situation is not conducive, postponing the exam for students badly affected by the floods is the most compassionate, wise and responsible decision.

Rather than implementing a nationwide postponement of the SPM examination, which could disrupt the schedules and plans of students in unaffected areas, a more tailored approach should be taken.

SPM should be postponed in areas severely affected by floods such as parts of Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah. This approach will allow them to recover, rebuild and return to a state of readiness before taking the exam.

We must remember that these students are more than just exam candidates; each comes with their own hopes, dreams and aspirations. SPM is not just an exam but a crucial step towards their future.

We must understand that exams are not the be-all and end-all of a student’s future. Their emotional, physical and mental well-being must take precedence. In times of crisis, we must be guided by compassion and empathy.

The deputy prime minister has said that the floods this year are worse than that of 2014. With that in mind, it is my hope that the education ministry will consider these factors and take immediate action to support students affected by floods.

Let us show our students that we care – not just about their academic success but also about their well-being, interests and their future. The exam can wait, but not their mental health.

Azmi Rasheed Khan is chief operating officer of think tank Institut Masa Depan Malaysia.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.