Covid-19, exam and floods: Stories of SPM 2020 candidates
It's a month away before Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2020 examination takes place on Feb 22 and not all candidates are in good shape to prepare for what is considered an important test in their school education journey.
Nur Atiqah Muhammad Fauzian, 18, was in despair after strong currents swept away her exercise books at her house in Kampung Kuala Dong, Pahang.
"I didn't manage to save my books when we were being evacuated. The current was strong. The books were all gone.
"I have a trial examination this week but it's very challenging to study with limited study material and in this condition," she told Malaysiakini.
The student of MRSM Tun Ghazali Shafie said she and her family were evacuated to Kampung Pia hall on Jan 3, where they stayed for three days.
The second child of seven siblings said despite the ordeal, she would continue to study. She has online classes to attend but here comes another challenge.
"Sometimes I miss classes because of Internet line disruption," she said.
Learning Physics is difficult for Atiqah as she finds it easier to understand the subject in a classroom rather than online.
"My weakest subject is Physics. I cannot learn it alone or online. It's more helpful if I study it in class," she said.
She explained that many of her friends, especially those with financial constraints and Internet connection difficulties, have lost the motivation to sit for SPM. She used to feel the same way too.
"At first it was the Covid-19 pandemic. Then came online study, and now floods.
"SPM has been postponed several times to the point where we don't care (about our study) anymore.
"We burned the midnight oil when we were at the hostel, and after we found out that we had to go home in October, the motivation to study faded away," she added.
Another student Mustaqim Hakimi Rozlan said that he felt down as he was busy helping his family and relatives to move to a new house when other candidates were in their final preparation before the examination.
When the flood hit his house at Kampung Kuala Kechau, Kuala Lipis, Pahang, his family only managed to save necessary items such as clothes and the rice cooker.
"The situation is not helping. I missed online classes and I spent a lot of time helping my relatives who were also affected by the flood," he said.
He admitted that he's not ready at all to take SPM.
In Terengganu, Amirul Mukminin Mohd Sukri had to cope with the noise at the evacuation centre to study. He took shelter at SK Banggol Katong due to the floods.
"It's depressing.
"I can't study at all here because it's too noisy. Worse, I can't join the online class because the Internet is disconnected due to the heavy rain," he lamented.
Like Atiqah, Amirul too could only watch as the current washed away his exercise books.
With a little trick using technology, he found a way to catch up with studying - he sought help from friends to send notes via WhatsApp.
