KUALA LUMPUR – The government’s decision to limit the number of students in schools when in-person classes resume beginning next month takes into consideration the risk of infection outside the premises.
Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said while it is relatively easy to monitor students’ movements on school grounds, the same cannot be said of the situation outside, before and after each day’s lessons.
“We made the decision based on a number of factors, after a series of engagements with all stakeholders, including teachers, parents and (school) administrators,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
“For instance, when schools reopened in March this year, what happened was, parents and the public saw that the situation in schools was quite safe, but outside, there was congestion.
“So, we deliberated on what is the best approach, especially considering the (highly infectious) Delta variant (of Covid-19). And that is why we are limiting the number of students (allowed in physical classrooms) to half.”
The ministry’s decision to resume in-person classes also took into account the issues faced by students who lack internet access or electronic gadgets, he said.
“There are those with these facilities, but there are also others left far behind because they don’t. So, we wanted to find a middle ground.”
He was replying to a question from Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru-PH), who said on paper, the approach of imposing a cap is good, but this can cause some students to be left behind, especially when they are at home.
On August 15, Radzi announced that schools will resume in-person classes beginning October 3.
On September 12, he said such classes will be conducted at 50% capacity, and that schools will reopen in stages based on the phases of the National Recovery Plan.
Elaborating on how classes will be conducted, he said 50% of students from the same class will attend physical lessons for a week, before swapping with the remaining half, who will undergo home-based learning.
“Before schools reopen, teachers will determine the group of students and their turns to come to class. Teachers will also explain the preparations required for both school- and home-based learning.”
For those who will follow their lessons from home, he said, they will be given assignments and activities to complete. – The Vibes, September 23, 2021
