Youngest go back to school first

KUALA LUMPUR: Schools nationwide will be welcoming back students from March 1, beginning with preschoolers and primary school pupils.

Education Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin says those in pre-school, Year One and Year Two will resume face-to-face classes on March 1 while Year Three to Year Six will return on March 8.

“As for secondary schools, students in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will start on April 4, while students in other states will return on April 5, ” he said yesterday.

Secondary schools will begin seeing students in classrooms again after the mid-semester school holidays that begin on March 26 or 27 and ends on April 3 or 4, depending on the state.

“Private schools under the ministry will also follow these starting dates, ” he said, adding that these schools usually follow the same academic calendar as public schools.

“As of today, the current academic calendar still remains.”

He added that international schools and education centres, including tuition centres, could also resume face-to-face classes from March 8.

“All other schools which are not under the ministry are requested to follow these dates and standard operating procedure, ” he said.

“Preschoolers, Year One and Year Two pupils will return sooner than others to allow themselves to become familiar with the SOP, especially those who are setting foot into schools for the first time like Year One pupils.

“This will also enable teachers to establish the best methods to ensure SOP for school dismissal is followed.”

The reason secondary school students will not return so soon is to make way for the Sijil Pelajaran (SPM) 2020 examinations to be carried out smoothly.

“SPM 2020 will require more rooms and not just one examination hall, ” said Mohd Radzi, adding that special rooms would be set up as isolation rooms, transit rooms and special rooms for students who display Covid-19-like symptoms at school.

As for vocational colleges, he said those in Year One Semester Two for Sijil Vokasional Malaysia and Year One Semester Two Diploma Vokasional Malaysia would be back on March 1.

He said the decision on the dates was reached after presenting the ministry’s proposal to the National Security Council yesterday.

Mohd Radzi said only schools designated as SPM 2020 examination centres were allowed to open in enhanced movement control areas.He also said students must show proof of a medical condition or sickness, such as a doctor’s letter, as to why they could not return to school.

“What is important is that everyone follows the SOP when school reopens to ensure the children can continue their studies in school in a safe environment, ” he said.

On another matter, he said the content for primary schools on DidikTV would be removed once these pupils return to school to make way for more secondary school content.

“That is the plan for secondary school students, who are still at home, to be able to use DidikTV for their studies, ” he said.