Time for song, dance and fun learning

Surprise visitors: Pupils being greeted by volunteers dressed up as cartoon characters on the first day of the new school term at SJK(C) Han Chiang in George Town. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: It was the first day of school at SMK Perempuan Al-Mashoor in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah yesterday – and the students were dancing to children’s music.

All 560 students of the secondary school took part in the morning assembly, which started with a series of dances and children’s songs after a speech by principal Rosnah Othman.

The fun activities were in line with the Education Ministry’s decision that there would be no serious teaching in the first week.

Instead, all schools will focus on fun learning and activities.

Dancing queens: Students starting their morning assembly with a series of dance routines at SMK Perempuan Al-Mashoor in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, George Town.

“This week, schools will incorporate fun into the learning sessions.

“That’s one way of encouraging students to attend school. Fun elements should be included in every session,” said Penang Education director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad.

“It can be done inside or outside classrooms, or in any activity room deemed suitable.

“If students enjoy the activities, they would love to come to school,” he said after visiting the school.

Abdul Rashid said the schools should also focus on niche areas for the children to stand out in and reduce activities that would bring little value to learning.

It started to pour yesterday morning after a long dry spell, causing heavy traffic congestion near many schools.

Vehicles were reported crawling along many roads leading to schools in Ayer Itam and Bayan Baru.

At some primary schools, mascots and decorations were used to welcome the pupils into their classrooms.

This year, a total of 229,861 pupils and students from Year One to Form Six were enrolled in 398 schools in Penang.