Brickfields Asia College founder and managing director Raja Singham suggested additional exam sittings and virtual proctored examinations, where candidates are monitored through a webcam, as part of the backup plans.

He said there was a need for all exams to adopt greater innovation and empathy for this year’s assessment.

He urged the government and public examination bodies to consider exploring such ideas, as other countries had already established different assessment methods for their students to further their education and careers.

Raja also called on the ministry, along with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, telcos and other relevant stakeholders to extend more help to disadvantaged students during this digital age.

The higher education ministry and private higher education institutions should also consider a more “holistic university entry policy” for this particular cohort, said Raja.

“There is a need to be creative, innovative, collaborative and embrace change instead of insisting on doing things as they have been done the last 50 years,” he said.

Previously, former prime minister Najib Razak had urged Putrajaya to come up with solutions for students and parents who were worried about the lack of time to prepare for the upcoming exams.

He proposed for the SPM exam to be postponed for two weeks so candidates could attend extra lessons after the Chinese New Year holidays, and that online lessons or tutorials be provided until the exam begins on Feb 22.