Back-to-school cheer and gloom

Filth and silt: The clean-up exercise at SMK Dabong in Kelantan required a tractor to lift the destroyed items and debris.

STUDENTS went back to school this week after the long year-end break with 438,869 starting Year One.

The start of the school year was different this year with those in several states ravaged by floods losing their new school unforms, books and even their homes in some instances. Their schools were also covered in mud and the cleaning-up exercise required many volunteers.

Students were supposed to start school on Jan 5, and a day earlier for those in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor but this was subsequently extended by a week due to the flood situation in several states.

Education director-general Datuk Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof said last Friday that schools in Perak, Pahang and Kelantan which are being used as flood relief centres or still inundated by floods, have been allowed to postpone their new school term by another week.

Hello young man: MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai greeting Year One pupil Tan Jun How when he visited SJK(C) Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, a new school. 

He said 41 schools are affected with four in Kelantan, 18 in Pahang and 19 in Perak.

This meant that affected schools in Kelantan would be starting school today, while those in Perak and Pahang will start tomorrow. Although some students feel jittery at the start of school, it was excitement that was written on the faces of a group of Year One pupils from Sekolah Sri UCSI on the first day.

Dylan Ooi, one of the 70 seven-year-olds enrolled in the school in Subang Jaya, Selangor, this year, said he was very excited about starting school even though “primary school is very different from kindergarten”.

“My new school uniform is quite difficult to put on. I don’t know how to put on the tie properly. My parents had to help me this morning,” he said.

For Ang Kai Zxian, his parents’ assurances helped him get through the school day.

“My parents told me a lot of good things about this school. So far, I like it here. I think music and computer class will be fun,” he said.

Another pupil, Thanyashree Mahendren, said she was very happy and “felt good about being in school”.

“I am looking forward to studying Mathematics, English and Art,” she said.

Syed Muhammad said that he looked forward to the different classes in school, especially drawing, which he loved.

It was a first of sorts for Sixth Formers who no longer need to wear school uniforms from this year onwards.

Dr Khair said students enrolling in Form Six would be allowed to use traditional outfits or other apparel as part of their school dress code.

Hows school? Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (centre) speaks to pupils of SK Cyberjaya.

They would also be allowed to wear batik attire to school under a move by the ministry to “re-brand” Form Six.

Although it was not stated in the directive, students can still wear their uniforms.