KUANTAN: Over 443,000 Form Five students nationwide began sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2017 examination, which commenced this morning and ends on Dec 4.
In Pahang, 22,516 candidates are sitting for the exam at 236 centres across the state.
State education director Datuk Rosdi Ismail said 19,457 candidates are from national secondary schools (SMK); 1,514 candidates are from state religious secondary schools (SMAN); and 689 candidates are from Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM).
He said that the remaining 132 candidates are from private schools, people's religious schools (57) and private candidates (667).
"Candidates need to bring their respective identification cards to the exam centres to ensure the smooth management and running of the examination," he said.
In Kelantan, seven out of 31,376 candidates in the state have to sit for the exam in hospital.
Four candidates are at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia Kubang Kerian, while three are at Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kota Baru.
The Kelantan State Education Department said that 273 examination centres are open state-wide and manned by 2,380 officers.
“Of the 31,376 candidates, 23,285 are from government schools; Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (901); Sekolah Menengah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (423); Yayasan Islam Kelantan (5,029); the private sector (117); and private candidates (1,621).
“Special needs candidates number at 49.
“For Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), 14,193 candidates are being monitored by 1,509 officers at 59 examination centres,” it said, adding that 14,164 students are from government schools; and 29 are from the private sector.
Meanwhile, 3,071 Sijil Vokasional Malaysia candidates are being monitored by 87 officers at five vocational schools in the state.
In Putrajaya, 1,335 candidates are sitting for the exam at 11 examination centres across the Federal Territory.
Putrajaya Education Department director Roaini Jaafar, who visited Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Putrajaya Presint 16 (1), said the first day of exams had gone smoothly
She said the last paper for SPM candidates in Putrajaya will be Information Technology and Communications, on Nov 30.
Meanwhile, SMK Putrajaya Presint 16 (1) principal Ab Aziz Mamat said there are 167 candidates from the school and he is targeting a 100 per cent pass rate.
He said he also hopes that at least four candidates from the school will achieve A+ in all subjects.
“The commitment from teachers and students has been outstanding," he added. – With additional reporting by Hazira Ahmad Zaidi from Harian Metro