UNDER CONTROL: Education D-G downplays issue, calling
leak 'a misunderstanding'
KOTA KINABALU: THE Education Ministry will set up a
special task force to investigate an
alleged leak of the Sijil Pelajaran
Malaysia (SPM) examination questions.
Education director-general Tan Sri Abdul Ghafar
Mahmud said the ministry was now in contact with the Muslim Consumer
Association of Malaysia (PPIM), which had revealed the possibility of leaked
exam questions.
He said the ministry was acquiring further
information from PPIM, adding that efforts were being made to get to the bottom
of the matter
"This leakage was unlikely to happen as those
papers were printed in the United Kingdom and police had escorted them from
there to Malaysia.
"There might be a misunderstanding in between,
but we will rectify the matter as soon as possible," said Abdul Ghafar
after a meeting with the Sabah Education Department sectors heads, districts
education officers, School Improvement Specialist Coaches (SISC+) and School
Improvement Partner (SIP+) officers.
The PPIM had received reports from three individuals
claiming that SPM questions for Mathematics and Additional Mathematics were
leaked.
A complainant said he was informed about the matter
by students at a school in Wangsa Maju on Nov 18, who claimed that the questions
were distributed during an SPM seminar at the Mua'adz Bin Jabal Mosque in
Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur, on Nov 17.
In Kuala Lumpur, Deputy Education Minister II P.
Kalamanathan said the outcome of investigations into the leaked SPM questions
was expected to be known next week.
He said the ministry was scrutinising the claims,
adding that action would be taken if the allegations were true.
"I believe the investigation is still ongoing
and an official announcement will only be made next week," said Kamalanathan
at the closing of the Scope International Orang Asli Children Education
programme.
Asked whether students might have to re-sit the
examination, Kamalanathan said it was best to wait for the official
announcement before making any presumptions.
Yesterday, the Malaysian Examination Board confirmed
that they had received complaints about the leak in the Mathematics and
Additional Mathematics' papers.
The board is currently investigating the validity of
the complaints, and would take action when it concluded its investigations.
On a separate matter, Kamalanathan said the
abolishment of the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examination was done to
ensure that all Malaysian children receive at least 11 years of free education.
"Previously, some students received only 9 years
of education as they leave school after failing their PMR. Without it, students
have the opportunity to receive free and sustained education without dropping
out of school after a short period."
He said the extra two years provided time for
students to discover their interests and develop themselves better.
Kamalanthan said Malaysia's literacy level was
currently approaching the 95 per cent mark, which was remarkable considering
the worldwide level of literacy currently stands at 85 per cent.
Deputy Education Minister II P. Kalamanathan at the
Scope International Orang Asli Children Education programme in Bukit Beruntung
yesterday. Pic by Nurul Shafina Jemenon
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