400,000 students return to school for physical classes

SPM 2020 candidates at SMK Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang. having their temperatures checked before continuing to their classrooms on the first day of the 2021 school academic year. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

PETALING JAYA: It’s crunch time for 400,000 Malaysian examination candidates as they make their way back to schools to resume face-to-face revision for their exams.

These candidates who will be sitting for the 2020 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Vokasional Malaysia, Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia, Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia, Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia and Diploma Vokasional Malaysia as well as other international level exams certified by the ministry from next month onwards made their way back to over 2,400 secondary schools nationwide.

Police car parked outside SMK Sri Sentosa, Kuala Lumpur, keep an eye on students as they return to school for the first time in months. 20 Jan 2021 - CHAN TAK KONG/The Star

After almost four months away from classrooms, these exam candidates made their way back into their classrooms on Wednesday (Jan 20) morning.

Under the watchful eyes of their teachers who were stationed at the entrances, students had their temperatures checked while ensuring physical distancing was maintained.

Checks by The Star at several schools around the country showed that the candidates were mindful to stay far apart from each other as they waited their turn to enter school grounds.

Form five and six students began attending their first day school reopen at SMK ACS Ipoh.(20th January 2021) — RONNIE CHIN/The Star

Police personnel were also spotted at SMK Sri Sentosa, Kuala Lumpur, to ensure everything went smoothly as the candidates quietly left their transport and walked through the gates.

The atmosphere was slightly more cheerful outside other schools such as SMK Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang, as the candidates excitedly greeted each other after not seeing each other for months.

Meanwhile, around 4.3 million children from pre-school right up to Form Four joined home-based teaching and learning lessons conducted by their teachers as the Covid-19 pandemic keeps them from stepping foot into their classrooms.