PUTRJAYA, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- The Education Ministry continues to take precautionary measures against influenza A(H1N1) to prevent its spread during Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) starting today.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said worries over the pandemic had waned as the situation was under control.

"Alhamdulillah (thank God), the preparation went very well. A total of 475,182 students are sitting for the examination this year," he told reporters after visiting Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Presint 8 here today.

He said of them, 442,611 candidates are from public schools, 13,561 (private schools), 338 private candidates, 4,150 (Mara Junior Science Colleges and Armed Forces Apprentice Schools), 1,288 (Sekolah Agama Rakyat) and 13,324 (state religious schools).

Muhyiddin also announced that the ministry would allow schools to take an occasional holiday on Tuesday, Oct 20 in view of the Deepavali public holiday on Saturday, Oct 17.

He said schools which had used up all occasional holidays would be allowed to take a replacement holiday by replacing it on Saturday, Oct 31.

"This emanated from requests from schools and parents for an additional holiday.

This will help parents make preparation and plan their travel to their hometowns and avoid traffic congestion," he added.

State education directors have been ordered to approve the occasional holiday only to schools that had applied for it, he said, adding that, the implementation would be monitored by district education offices.