PMR : Please Maintain Responsibility

Star Q

i.  Meraikan Peserta Karnival Sukan

ii.  Visible Essay : Writing

iii.  Tofu Stuffed Portobello

This year sees the last of the PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah) which will then be replaced by some other assessment for the Form Three students next year.  This writer has noticed the ending of this examination ever since he was in school when this exam was initially known (during my days) as Lower Certificate of Education (LCE) then to Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP); mainly due to the lack of emphasis on the examination (more on this later, if time permits)

Just a short insight on my involvement in this Form Three examination.  I have been both an invigilator and chief invigilator for this exam for about fifteen years since 1996.  And during those times, I have attended just as many coordination meetings for both positions, usually held at hotels or resorts.  And every time during those meetings, I have been told that as invigilators we should maintain the integrity of the examination and ourselves as appointed invigilators.

One of the things that was repeatedly told to us by the officials from the State Education Department (I can quote a few names, but I refuse to drag these people into this discussion) is that no one other than those on duty during the examination should be allowed entry into the exam hall or rooms (unless of course if they were Education's high ranking officials)  And thus, if this is not allowed then for sure, pictures of the examination should also be avoided at all costs (or so I was told)

But recently during this final PMR examination, invigilators have slackened in their responsibility because some have even taken photographs of candidates sitting for their exams and uploaded them onto social networks.  What is even more appalling is that, even the area supervisors have taken photographs with candidates who are taking their exams in hospitals.  Yes, these area supervisors have the right of entry into the room where the candidate is sitting for his exam, but he definitely has not right to pose with the candidate and upload the photos onto some social network.

Then again, being the last exam of its kind, I suppose people can throw away their responsibilities and thus, find it necessary to somehow immortalise the event and show it to the world as proof that they have been part of the end of an examination era.