School Opening (Jan 20th) postponed

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced that face-to-face school sessions scheduled to start on January 20 nationwide have been postponed due to the current situation of COVID-19 infection.

According to a statement today, KPM informed that face-to-face school sessions will only involve students who will sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM), Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi examinations Agama Malaysia (STAM) and Malaysian Vocational Diploma (DVM) in 2020 as well as equivalent international examinations.

"All primary school students and Form 1 to Form 5 students in secondary schools will follow learning through the method of Teaching and Learning at Home (PdPR) according to the suitability of teachers and students from January 20, 2021," the statement said.

Apart from that, the statement also mentioned, since some students have started to check in at the hostel from 16 January 2021, the MOE has made two rulings each involving full boarding schools and day school hostels as follows:

Boarding school

* Form 4 and Form 5 students:

• can stay in hostels and follow PdP online at school; or

• can go home and follow PdPR. Parents or guardians are allowed to take the child or adopted child home at any convenient time in accordance with the set guidelines.

* Form 5 (2020) and Form 6 students:

• follow PdP face to face at school until the end of the examination.

Daily School Dormitory

* Form 1, Level 4 and Level 5 students:

• can stay in hostels and follow PdP online at school; or

• can go home and follow PdPR. Parents or guardians are allowed to take the child or adopted child home at any convenient time in accordance with the set guidelines.

* Form 5 (2020) and Form 6 students:

• follow PdP face to face at school until the end of the examination.

Apart from that, the statement also mentioned that the food and drink needs of students in the dormitory will be provided by the school.

For the purpose of operating the school, the statement said, all teachers must return to their respective stations before 20 January 2021.

"Teachers involved in SPM / SVM / SKM / STPM / STAM / DVM examination classes in 2020 must attend school for PdP purposes face to face. Other teachers will implement PdPR and attendance to school is based on the requirements set by the department head," said the statement.

The statement added that for Matriculation College students, they need to stay in their respective colleges to continue their hybrid learning.

Meanwhile, all students of the Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) who have been in the hostel must remain in the campus hostel.

"Students who have not yet registered at the hostel can choose to enter the hostel or remain in their respective homes. PdP for all IPG students will be implemented online from 17 January 2021.

"Details related to the implementation of IPG practicum and internship will be informed later," he said.

At the same time, the statement said, all private kindergartens registered with the MOE can continue to operate face to face.

"The MOE recommends that all these rulings be followed by schools that are not registered with the MOE, including schools under the state government.

"KPM is always committed to assisting the government's efforts in tackling the COVID-19 epidemic," he said.