Primary school kids raring to meet friends again, resume classroom learning
KUCHING: Some primary schools pupils here are happy to be able to return to school today and are looking forward to meeting their friends and resuming classroom learning.
Brothers Muhammad Zafie Aiman and Mohamad Zafie Aqil Rafie told The Borneo Post yesterday that while they have been keeping up with their studies through online lessons, they both preferred the classroom setting.
“(In the classroom) when there are subject matters that we do not understand, we can ask our teachers immediately.
“Being in school again is definitely more exciting than learning online, plus we get to see our friends and teachers again,” said the boys, who both study at SRK St Thomas.
The siblings also said their father had bought them face masks and hand sanitisers to use while at school, adding that they would also be bringing packed food from home.
Sharing the sentiment were two other brothers, twins Ashton Jassence and Aiden Javier Etat, who both study at SK Semenggok.
The two said they are both excited at being able to study and play together with their friends again, and are not worried about the reopening of schools amid the Covid-19 situation in the state.
“No, we are not worried. We have face masks and hand sanitisers to protect ourselves when we return to school tomorrow (today),” said Aiden.
The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) last Friday announced that 231 primary schools in Sarawak would resume face-to-face teaching and learning sessions beginning today, in addition to the 814 schools that had reopened March 1.
It explained that the decision was made following a risk assessment of the Covid-19 situation in the state, and took into account the School Management and Operation Guidelines in the New Norm 2.0 issued by the Education Ministry.
However, SDMC also announced that 220 government and government-aided primary schools in high-risk areas would remain closed until March 14, namely in Betong, Bintulu, Kapit, Meradong, Miri, Kanowit, Sibu and Padawan.
In Kuching, only two schools will remain closed – Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Kuching and CHPS No.5.
On Feb 19, Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin announced that preschoolers as well as Year 1 and 2 students would return to school on March 1, followed by Year 3 to 6 students on March 8.