Education Minister: Schools will reopen in stages from Oct 3

PETALING JAYA: Schools will reopen in stages from Oct 3 onwards, says the Education Minister.

Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said the nationwide reopening of schools would start with exam year students in Forms Five and Six.

He, however, stressed that schools in Phase One states under the National Recovery Plan (NRP) would not be allowed to open.

Schools in Phase Two would be allowed to open for exam year students while schools in Phase Three could open in full, he said.

"But for Phases Two and Three, the decision to reopen schools will still depend on the risk evaluation conducted in the respective states.

"That's why we never said schools would reopen on Sept 1 - we said our target was Sept 1 but at the same time, we said that the decision would be based on the risk evaluation by the Health Ministry and National Security Council (NSC), and discussions with the Education Ministry.

"Whatever decision we make is in the best interest of our children," he said, adding that the health and safety of students was the ministry's priority in a video post on Facebook last night.

"Some people questioned why the ministry has still not made an announcement as to the reopening of schools with Sept 1 nearing.

But in managing the Covid-19 situation, we have to look at the most current data and analyse this thoroughly.

"So based on the latest information we have, the ministry has decided to delay the reopening of schools from Sept 1 to Oct 3," he said, adding that further details would be announced soon.