No hitches in reopening of schools after the MCO break

BINTULU: Some 340 Form Five students and 141 teachers from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Baru Bintulu returned to the school yesterday, in full compliance with the recovery movement control order (RMCO) standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Teachers were seen waiting outside the school gate as early as 6am to monitor the movement of their students.

Incoming students were seen wearing face masks and observing social distancing.

The school senior assistant (Administration and Academic) Albariah Mustapha were among those who welcoming back the students, after almost three months of closure.

When met, Albariah said the school reopening had run smoothly as planned.

She said to meet the SOP for the reopening, from the existing 14 classes, now the school has 22 classes with a maximum of 20 students in each classroom.

“We have shared the SOPs for the opening in our school official Facebook page and WhatsApp group.

“Meeting had also been conducted with the Parent Teacher Association (PIBG) on the SOPs,” she said when asked on the level of compliance to the SOPs.

Albariah said the school will also distribute flyers to the students to be given to their respective parents.

“In the flyers, we explain on the role of parents, for example if their children showing a fever symptom, flu, cough, tiredness, diarrhoea, we asked them to bring their children for a health check-up at the clinic,” she said.

Asked about the feedback from parents on the school reopening, she said so far based on a conversation in their WhatsApp group, all parents are eager to send their children back to school.

She said even parents with children in Form one to Form Four were also asking when their children could go back to school.

Albariah said the school has 86 teachers for Form Five and all of them are well prepared to resume their duties.

Prior to the opening, she said they had conducted a series of meeting that also involved the PIBG under the post Covid-19 school reopening preparation main committee.

“We also listen to their advice and I would like to thank PIBG for contributing ideas including financial assistance to enhance the school opening today,” she added.

Meanwhile, SMK Kidurong principal Rosli Saleh said the first day school reopening for over 500 students in Form Five and upper six classes went smoothly in line with the new normal.