‘Vital for students to continue learning process in school’

KUCHING: The full reopening of primary and secondary schools from July 15 has been called ‘welcome news’.

Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said it is vital for students to return to their respective schools for their learning process to continue.

“It’s welcome news. Meetings and discussions between Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and the National Security Council to prepare for the opening of schools had been done,” she said when commenting on the reopening.

Fatimah said the standard operating procedures (SOP) were now in place for schools to open and consideration had been given to different types of schools as well as those with boarding facilities.

For rural areas in the state, she said boarding schools were common and thus hostels were of concern.

“Usage of double decker (bunk) beds in a cramped room and in some instances pelantar (platform) to replace double decker beds is of concern. However, it is a relief to see that there is specific SOP for this situation,” she said.

Fatimah said it is important that students and staff strictly abide by the SOP.

“Three months ( of not going to schools due to the Movement Control Order) is not a short period. A catch-up plan for learning must be in place,” she said.

She added students’ concerns regarding Covid-19 when returning to school and their upcoming examinations must be properly addressed.

On Wednesday, Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said Forms 1 to 4, Transition classes as well as Primary 5 and 6 would resume from July 15.

For Primary 1 to 4, Mohd Radzi said they would resume classes on July 22.