All ready to return to campus life

Varsity students looking forward to attending classes after months at home

JOHOR BARU: University students are looking forward to the reopening of their campuses, which is expected to begin this month after they were closed due to the movement control order.

Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus first-year student Esther Tan May Yinn, 21, is looking forward to going back to campus and attending classes as usual.

“We were told earlier that classes will be conducted online until December, but I’m not sure if that would change given the recent announcement from the Higher Education Ministry,” she said yesterday.

Tan said that although online classes was great, it could be taxing and mentally draining staring at the computer for hours daily.

“I only used the computer when I had to complete my assignments. But now I have to use it during classes as well as for assignments,” she said.

Universiti Putra Malaysia thirdyear student N. Daanesh, 21, said that he hoped to return to campus as soon as possible.

“Although I can still study at home, I feel there is less distraction on campus and the environment is a lot more conducive for me to study.

“I also have access to the university’s library and resource centre, which makes it easier for me to look up topics I have difficulty understanding,” he said.

However, one student prefers to stay at home for now.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) final-year student Aiza Shima Allisya Rozani, 22, said that while she preferred studying at her campus rather than at home, she had decided to opt out of returning to campus.

“My name was shortlisted as one of the students who can return to campus to resume classes as usual this month.

“However, I’m choosing to opt out and continue with online classes instead.

“This is because I only have two more weeks of classes before finishing my studies.”

She added that she would only return to Unimas to collect her stuff from her residential college as this year would be her final year.

“The MCO was announced in the middle of my mid-semester break and luckily for me, I was already back home in Skudai at that time.”

Higher education campuses would fully reopen in October, said the Higher Education Ministry.

Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad said on Wednesday that 30% of students from private higher education institutions could start returning from this month, in line with the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities’ request.

Public higher educational institution (IPTA) students in their first, second, third and fourth years who need clinical, practical, workshop, labs, studios or special equipment; those who will be sitting for professional examinations; and those who do not have access to the Internet or a conducive learning environment which facilitates the teaching and learning process; can also make their way back to their respective varsities.

Noraini added that all institutes of higher learning would be given the flexibility to determine the most suitable modes, including online learning, for their respective programmes.