IPOH: SPM candidates facing problems sitting for the examination must notify the education authorities immediately, says Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh.

“We are ready to help the affected candidates.

“Candidates faced with problems can contact their education departments or examinations board operations centres,” he said after visiting SMK Kampong Pasir Puteh on the first day of the SPM written test here yesterday.

He was asked to comment on SPM candidates in states hit by floods like Kelantan, Perak and Johor, with a number of them still seeking shelter at relief centres.

The SPM written test, which began yesterday, will go on till Feb 6.

Wong said the ministry had been handling the flood problem with the SPM oral tests having started last month.

“We have helped flood victims sit for the exam. The ministry will continue with Ops Payung to ensure that the affected students can take their papers.

“The ministry is working closely with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and Meteorological Department on the flood issue,” he added.

Meanwhile, Perak Education director Safuan Raba’ai said a total of 31,705 candidates would sit for the SPM in the state.

He said they consisted of 27,942 from government schools, 1,358 under government agencies, 65 from state religious schools, 287 from private schools, 1,562 individual candidates and 491 Sekolah Agama Rakyat students.

“We also have 135 special needs candidates for the SPM, compared with 119 in 2023,” he said.

Safuan added that there were 323 examination centres and 3,145 people appointed as supervisors and invigilators.

“We have also appointed 390 volunteer invigilators for the first time,” he said.