JOHOR BARU: Despite the various disruptions to the school year, several Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates here are still focusing on making the best preparations to excel in the examination.
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Infant Jesus Convent student Rebecca Tan Tze Shuen said she did not let the disruptions to hamper her preparations as she had been constantly revising her lessons.
"Not being able to physically go to school is not a problem as the teachers have prepared the necessary lessons for us. We just have to carry on with our revisions," said Tan.
In addition to the Movement Control Order, the flood that hit several states in the country recently led to the extention of the school holidays by a week, further limiting the number of school days.
Today is the first day of the third term of the 2021/2022 school session for schools in Group A, which are schools in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
For Savithra Arrual, she is glad to be back to school as she is now able to be with her friends and meet with the teachers.
"I just want to carry on with the momentum of preparing for the exam. Now that school has opened, it is easier for me to ask the teachers if there is anything that I do not understand," said Savithra.
The disruptions also did not cause the students to feel additional pressure to excel in the exam.
"There are no extra pressure for us. Our focus are on making the best preparations for the exam and pray that our hard work will lead to excellent results.
"Having said that, I also hope there would be no more disruptions to the school year as time is running out," said Nur Afrina Azman when met by NST at the school.
For principal Ande Noor Munawara Bachok, the school's top priority now is to maintain the candidates' motivation in facing the exam after a tough school year.
"Time is running out as by our calculations, there are only 14 days for the candidates to meet the teachers since they have to undergo oral and science practical exams too.
"We will use the time to make sure the candidates are prepared not only academically but also mentally," said Ande Noor Munawara.
She also hope that the candidates would take good care of their health and well-being and to continue to follow the Covid-19 standard operating procedures to reduce the risk of being infected with the virus.