Schools to reopen in some states from Oct 3, weekly rotation system introduced

 

The Education Ministry has announced a weekly rotation system for selected students returning to physical class beginning Oct 3 in states under Phase 3 and 4 of the National Recovery Plan.

Meanwhile, schools will remain closed in states under Phase 1 and 2, with certain exceptions such as for students in major examination years.

Education Minister Radzi Jidin said the weekly rotation will see physical classroom attendance reduced by 50 percent.

"Students in a classroom will be divided into two groups and only one group will be in the class at a time.

"The number will see attendance cut down to 50 percent of the class enrolment," Radzi said during a press conference at his ministry today.

Only selected secondary school students in Phase 3 states will return to their classes while students in Phase 4 include selected primary school students.

Primary students in Phase 4 will also return to school in two batches - Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 on Oct 17, while Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 on Dec 10. 

Exceptions to the weekly rotation system include students in residential schools as well as special needs students in special needs schools.

All students who are not returning to school will continue with online classes.

Radzi said there will be no disciplinary action against students who wish to remain at home.

"We do this because our children have not been to school for a long time and we want them to feel the new normal and at the same time, we want them to be safe," he added.

At present, states and territories under Phase 3 and 4 of the National Recovery Plan are Negeri Sembilan, Sarawak, and Labuan.

Meanwhile, states and territories under Phase 2 are Kelantan, Malacca, Pahang, Perak, Penang, Sabah, Selangor, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya.

Exam year students in these states will be returning to school.

Only Kedah and Johor are still under Phase 1.

Other highlights of students returning to classes according to phases:

Phase 2 (no rotation)

• Primary age special needs students in special needs schools or classes
• Form Six students in their second semester who will be sitting for STPM next month, second-year IBD (International Baccalaureate Diploma) and third-semester pre-university programme at Malaysian Sports School
• Students sitting for international examinations

Phase 3 (no rotation)

• Kindergarten/pre-school students
• Students sitting for IGCSE O-Level, A-Level, Australia Higher School Certificate and IBDP
• Students of pre-university programme at Malaysian Sports School and examination year students at government boarding schools

Phase 3 (rotation)

• Major examination year students in day schools
• Students sitting for other international examinations

Phase 4 (no rotation)

• Kindergarten/pre-school students
• Primary age special needs students in special needs schools or classes
• Form Six students in their second semester who will be sitting for STPM next month, second-year IBD and third-semester pre-university programme at Malaysian Sports School
• Special needs students in special needs schools or classes  - Mkini