UPDATED | MATSEC students warned against taking drinks into examination halls

Updated at 10:13am

The Education Ministry has told MaltaToday that the MATSEC board has revised its decision not to allow students to drink during exams.

"It regrets any inconveneince caused to students," a ministry's spokesman told MaltaToday when contacted.

Earlier:

Students sitting for advanced levels and ordinary levels have been warned not to take any drinks whatsoever with them into the room - including water.

The students were informed of the decision through an official letter.

Reacting to the warning, student organization Pulse urged the MATSEC board to reverse its decision insisting that it was unacceptable that students couldn't drink during exams - even when there are exams which are three-hours long.

"Despite the increasing hot temperature, students are being stopped from keeping beverages inside the examination halls," Pulse said in a statement.

 "In previous years, students were never prohibited from keeping at least a bottle of water to drink during the exam. It is totally unacceptable that students are not allowed to drink for a whole session, some of these lasting for three hours."

The student organization said that although there might have been cases of abuse in the past, "the authorities should never forget that it is essential for students to carry out their examinations in the right environment with the proper conditions".

Students sitting for MATSEC exams have suggested that at least they should be allowed to take with them a transparent bottle, with no labels or stickers attached.

Meanwhile, student organization SDM has started a petition online urging the MATSEC board to allow all students to drink during the exams as has been allowed during previous years.

"It is essential that students are allowed to drink during exams - with some exams being 3 hours long - especially during this time of the season were Summer is getting closer and temperatures are rising," SDM said.

MATSEC has to keep in mind that students have a lot on their minds preparing for the exam itself, and that it should not make it even harder for them, it added.

Up until this morning, 330 students had signed the petition.