SIBU: More candidates sit for examinations set by the Public Services Commission (SPA) online compared to those taking the exams in conventional examination centres.
According to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, the finding is based on SPA’s observation and study last year.
“In the peninsula, the percentage of candidates who sat for the examination online was 62 per cent compared to 50 per cent through the conventional mode.
“Elsewhere in Sabah, the percentage of candidates taking the exam online was also far higher at 68 per cent against 54 per cent sitting for it at the exam centre. Whereas in Sarawak, 65 per cent was present during the online exam versus 56 per cent at the centre.
“This means that it is easier for candidates to sit for the examination as they could do so anywhere, so long as there is internet access,” Entulu, who is Selangau MP, told The Borneo Post yesterday
He was asked about the viability of the online examination particularly in Sarawak due to its vast area. As Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, he oversees PSC besides two other portfolios, namely Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) and Education Service Commission (ESC).
Previously, Entulu said, the examination was only conducted in examination centres established in state capitals (for peninsula) and major districts in Sabah, namely Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau while in Sarawak, candidates sat for the examination in Kuching, Miri and Sibu.
The conventional method required candidates from the outskirts and far-flung longhouses and villages in Sarawak to make costly trips to these towns to sit for the exam, he noted.
Citing an example, he said candidates from Limbang needed to travel all the way to Kuching to sit for the examination.
Ever since the implementation of online job application in 2008, he said SPA had introduced the online examination to provide candidates the convenience of sitting for the exam anywhere where there is internet connection without needing to travel to examination centres.
Adding on, he said SPA regularly monitored the implementation of the online examination to ensure it ran smoothly.
From observation, he noted that the number of candidates taking the examination for community development officer post (Grade S41) online was 77.74 per cent last year.
“For Sarawak, the percentage of candidates sitting for the online examination was 77.78 per cent, whereas in Sabah it was 81.1 per cent.
“This percentage is higher compared to candidates sitting for the examination in centres with an overall 70 per cent for the same examination scheme on October 19, 2013.
“In that examination, candidates from Sabah recorded 67 per cent while 75 per cent of candidates in Sarawak were present at the examination centre,” Entulu said.
He also said SPA would work with rural internal service providers to allow candidates from rural areas to use their internet centres to take the exam online.
“Besides that, SPA also provides internet access at its interview centres,” Entulu added.