Perak: A total of 306 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates from four schools in Perak have been relocated to new examination centres following the floods currently affecting the state.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perak Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Khairudin Abu Hanipah stated that the affected candidates comprise 275 school candidates and 31 private candidates who were moved due to unsafe school conditions caused by the floods. The relocation involves candidates from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Abdul Rahman Talib, Teluk Intan, and SMK Seri Kandi, Teluk Intan, among others.
At SMK Abdul Rahman Talib, 67 school candidates and 11 private candidates have been relocated to SMK Seri Perak. Meanwhile, 59 school candidates from SMK Seri Kandi will be sitting for their examinations at SMK Seri Setia. Candidates from SMK Tun Abdul Razak, Selekoh, Bagan Datuk, comprising 93 school candidates and 20 private candidates, will be moved to Dewan Masjid Tuminah Hamidi, while 56 school candidates from SMK Datuk Idris, Pantai Remis, Manjung, will be relocated to SMK Pantai Remis.
Khairudin also mentioned that 20 candidates from Sekolah Menengah Tahfiz Darul Ridzuan, Pangkor, were relocated after a nearby slope failure. These candidates are now taking their exams at SMK Pangkor.
As of 8 am today, Perak remains one of the worst-hit states, with 4,766 evacuees from 1,447 families still taking shelter at 30 relief centres due to flooding across five districts – Hilir Perak, Manjung, Bagan Datuk, Perak Tengah, and Larut Matang and Selama.
Responding to questions on school safety, Khairudin reiterated that the government, through the Education Ministry, continuously prioritizes cleanliness, health, and safety in schools. Key measures include policies, guidelines, circulars, and directives related to student safety management, monitoring of school physical safety, and preparedness for disasters and adverse weather.
He further elaborated on safety enforcement measures, such as the installation of closed-circuit cameras, monitoring security guards’ responsibilities, and providing additional financial allocations for infrastructure repairs and safety upgrades at high-risk schools. Continuous monitoring and safety audits are also being conducted, with schools required to complete an annual self-assessment under the School Safety Rating System.
Khairudin highlighted the cooperation with agencies and preventive education through collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Department as part of the comprehensive safety strategy for schools in Perak.