Extend year-end school holidays so that teachers are better prepared, says Maszlee

KUALA LUMPUR: Extend the end of the year school holidays by at least another week to allow more preparation for teachers to resume their duties, says former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik.

He said that while the end-of-the-year break is normally for three weeks, it was a common practice to recall teachers a week earlier to prepare for students’ return to schools.

"Teachers will also have more time to observe self-quarantine before starting their official duties," he told a press conference at the Parliament media room on Tuesday (Oct 12).

On Sept 12, Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin announced that the 2021 year-end school holidays will begin on Dec 10 until Dec 31.

The school academic year for 2022 will begin in March.

Radzi said students and pupils will remain in their current Year and Form until February 2022, before moving to the following session in March 2022.

Maszlee said the additional leave will allow teachers to take advantage of the reopening of state borders and visit their hometowns before classes resume, especially for those who are from Sabah and Sarawak.

“This will ensure that our teachers are truly ready to work and safeguard the health of teachers, not only their physical health but also their mental health,” he said.

Maszlee said the proposal also takes into account the extension of the 2021 school term until next February.