THE Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination began on Tuesday in the last week of the school term. The Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examination was held one month ago and lasted a week.

For all intents and purposes, in most schools, classes for non-examination students stop some three weeks before schools close. School “h o l i d ay s ” star ted long before the school bells ring for the last day of the ter m. Visit any secondary school to verify this for yourself. All this is happening because schools have to ensure an environment that is free from disturbances for their students to sit their examinat i o n s. Schools do not want their other students to come in at this time for they may disturb the peace and tranquillity. So, activities and internal examinations for these classes are scheduled respectively before and during the PMR. After the PMR, that is, three weeks before schools close, there is nothing else for the students to do in schools. This is all because the Examination Board of the Education Ministry is unable to schedule these two examinations into the school holidays, citing shortage of manpower and insufficient computer fac i l i t i e s. The reasons are highly debatable, though. The board should not work in a cocoon, caring only for its interests in PMR and SPM. There are large numbers of non-examination classes which are badly affected in the p r o c e s s. Every year, the ministry announces the school calendar which clearly shows the number of school days that must be followed by all schools. Any incidental holidays have to be replaced. Does the calendar really mean anything? During the PMR and SPM periods, teachers have to struggle to fill in the students’ daily attendance reg ister s. On the other hand, some may want to argue differently. Why the fuss over threeweeks of extra holidays? After all, most schools have worked hard throughout the year. Teachers deserve an earlier break. The three weeks can be fr uitful. Why bother about quality education when you can have quality holidays? It is time the minister himself took stock of what is really happening on the ground.

LIONG KAM CHONG, Seremban

Source: NST – November 13, 2008