Schools to begin reopening from July 15
CORONAVIRUS | The government has announced that all national schools across the country will begin to reopen from July 15.
In a press conference today, Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (above) said all Form 1 to 4 classes can resume from July 15, along with remove classes, as well as Standard 5 and 6...
CORONAVIRUS | The government has announced that all national schools across the country will begin to reopen from July 15.
In a press conference today, Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (above) said Forms 1 to 4, remove classes, as well as Standard 5 and 6 can resume from July 15.
However, Standards 1 to 4 would only resume on July 22.
Meanwhile, SPM leavers for 2019 can check the decision on entry offers to Form 6, semester 1, 2020, today at the ministry online portal.
Those accepted can register on July 15.
Form 5 and 6 students and those taking public examination such as Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM), Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM), as well as equivalent international examinations, returned to school last week on June 24.
However, no sporting or extra-curricular activities would be allowed to resume for the time being.
The reopening schedule applied to all national schools, government-assisted schools, private and international schools registered with the Education Ministry. Schools not registered with the ministry are advised to follow the same dates.
The minister also announced that the government had identified three models for schools to operate based on its differing abilities to adhere to the SOPs on social distancing.
The three models are for single-session schools, two-session schools, and alternating school sessions.
On the three models:
- Single-session model applies to schools with adequate classrooms and space to accommodate all pupils in a single session;
- Two-session model applies to schools already practising two sessions prior to the movement control order (MCO), or previously single-session schools lacking space to accommodate all pupils;
- Alternating model applies to schools without adequate space to accommodate all students, even with two sessions.
Radzi said many schools which would have to adopt the alternating model comprise those in high-density areas.
“On the alternating model, for high school, Form 5 and 6 students must attend school daily while Form 1 to 4 students must take turns according to their stream or class.
“Schools must decide the form of alternating (students) based on student requirements.
“[...](Primary school) students in Standards 1 to 6 can take turns to attend school, based on their class or levels. In this, the schools will decide the turns,” he said.
He added that for the alternating model, a hybrid lesson plan will be implemented - that is face-to-face learning on school-going days and home-based learning on other days.
Boarding schools
A listing of the model to be applied by each school will be announced by the ministry at least a week before schools are slated to start.
Concerning boarding schools, Radzi announced that schools with adequate room and space for students would be allowed to operate as normal.
Meanwhile, only a limited number of students would be permitted to initially return to their dorms in schools with limited space.
“Based on the Health Ministry advice, in (dorms with double-decker beds) the initial stages of school reopening, only the lower bunks can be used.
“However, after 14 days, a new group of students will be allowed to return to their dorms, and they will sleep on the lower bunks while existing students will be moved on the upper bunks.
“This will continues until all students return,” Radzi said.
Meanwhile, the ministry has agreed to allow all registered private education centres, including tuition, language and development centres to resume operations on July 15.
