KLUANG: Twin brothers Ahmad Akif Mohd Azwan and Ahmad Afif Mohd Azwan took their first steps into school life together.
Waking up as early as 4am, the seven-year-olds were brimming with excitement for the new chapter ahead.
“I am excited for school. We were up early this morning and had nasi lemak for breakfast.
“I look forward to learning together with my brother,” said Ahmad Akif when met at SK Dato’ Onn Jaafar in Simpang Renggam yesterday.
The twins, who hope to become policemen, were accompanied by their father, Mohd Azwan Kasim, 39, on their first day of primary school.
“They were really looking forward to this and even got ready by themselves this morning,” said the technician.
“This is also my first time sending my own children to school, and everything has gone smoothly so far.”
At the same school, Zurliana Zainuddin, 39, felt relieved to see her autistic daughter Nur Safiya Muhd Asdilah calm and smiling after meeting her new teachers on her first day of school.
The secondary school teacher had initially planned to send Nur Safiya to the school gate and let her enter with her elder sister, but the girl was overwhelmed by the crowd.
“She asked me to go in with her.
“After entering the classroom and meeting her new teachers, she calmed down and was smiling widely as she waved goodbye to me.
“It was such a relief as I didn’t know how she would react, and it has been smooth so far,” said Zurliana.
At SK Bandar Putra in Kulai, preschool student P. Kishara Anasuya was warmly welcomed by primary pupils dressed as doctors, teachers and other professions.
Her mother, R. Chitra, 46, praised the school for making the first day of school fun and memorable.
“I was surprised when I saw the teachers and pupils at the entrance greeting us.
“It was a nice effort by the school that made the experience of going to school more exciting and special for children.
“My daughter was also very excited when she saw them, and I am happy to see her starting her schooling life with so much joy,” she said.
At a press conference at SK Dato’ Onn Jaafar, Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Kassim said some 615,120 students in Johor returned to school yesterday.
“So far, everything has been running smoothly,” he said.
Aminuddin added that the ministry would intensify its anti- bullying measures to ensure a safe learning environment for students.
“We will focus on matters related to bullying so that if incidents occur, we are better prepared to address them.
“This includes providing counselling and early exposure to safety awareness,” he said.
Aminuddin also stressed the importance of fostering peer bonding among schoolchildren to encourage them to protect one another against bullying.
“With strong peer support, when students see their friends feeling threatened or uncomfortable, they themselves will step in to help,” he said.
