School attendance exceeds 85%

KUALA LUMPUR: More than eight out of 10 students are back at school for face-to-face classes with their teachers, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.

Senior Minister for Education Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said the 85% attendance showed that the reopening of schools was generally well-received by parents and students.

“This has enabled teachers to assess their students’ mastery of lessons and implement appropriate interventions.

“Overall, the number of schools currently operating (nationwide for the period Oct 3 to Nov 29) stands at 10,060, involving a total of 4,385,281 students.

“All primary and secondary schools under the Education Ministry in states under Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) are fully operational, involving 8,166 schools.

“As for Kelantan and Sarawak, which are under NRP Phase 3, 1,894 schools have been in operation, involving 1,526 primary schools and 368 secondary schools,” he said.

Radzi was replying to a question from Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PAS-Kuala Krai), who wanted to know the latest on school operations nationwide since the staggered opening on Oct 3.

In response to Abdul Latiff’s supplementary question on the ministry’s plan for all schools to operate fully without having to rotate, Radzi said at present, attendance without rotation involved examination class students, 90% of whom have been vaccinated.

He said examination class students in schools nationwide currently were allowed to attend classes except those in four schools, which had not achieved the 90% vaccination rate.

“We are working closely with the Health Ministry to see which schools can be included to have classes fully.

“As far as possible, the Education Ministry would like everyone to return to school as soon as possible, without going through the rotational system.

“However, we have to consider health factors and discuss the matter with the Health Ministry, especially with the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant,” he added. – Bernama