JERLUN: A total of 29,044 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2024 candidates begin sitting for the examinations in Kedah today until March 7.
State Education director Ismail Othman said that this includes candidates from various educational institutions namely government schools, government-aided schools, government-aided religious schools, schools under government agencies other than the Education Ministry, state religious secondary schools, private schools, independent schools, and community religious secondary schools.
"There are 264 examination centres in schools, and in addition, 15 centres are set up in hospitals across Kedah.
"Currently, eight candidates are taking the exams at hospitals including two at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, four at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital, one at Metro Hospital in Sungai Petani, and one at Pendang Hospital. These are students who, due to accidents or chronic illnesses, must take their exams in these medical facilities.
"We also have 83 candidates with special educational needs, comprising various categories including learning and hearing difficulties," he said during a press conference after visiting SPM examination centre at SMK Ayer Hitam today.
Ismail added that SMKJ Keat Hwa in Alor Star has the highest number of candidates at 373, while Sekolah Integriti Sungai Petani has the fewest with seven candidates.
Meanwhile, Ismail advised all SPM candidates to take good care of themselves throughout the examination period.
"I strongly advise all candidates to prioritise their health and safety during this critical period. Any incidents affecting the candidates could potentially impact their chances of sitting for the exams.
"I would also like to advise parents to closely monitor their children to ensure they are well-supervised. Teachers should also pay extra attention to all candidates during this time," he added.