Johor, Pahang, Negri Sembilan set to reopen schools early October

KUALA LUMPUR – As Johor is now in Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), school reopening in the state has been moved to October 10, in line with the policy earlier set by the Education Ministry.

For Pahang, which starts Phase 3 today, the state will start to observe reopening for Phase 3 starting October 11, while adhering to reopening SOPs for Phase 2 between October 4 and 10.

The same applies for Negri Sembilan, which starts Phase 4 today. The ministry said in a statement that the reopening of schools in the state will continue under Phase 3 SOPs from October 4 to 17, and Phase 4 SOPs will only take effect October 18 onwards.

The National Security Council has also approved for students in Form 6 Semester 2 and those sitting for the IGCSE O-Level in Phase 1 states to resume in-person classes without rotation.

Seeing that Kedah is the only state in Phase 1, this policy will start on October 10 while other students will have to remain home to continue online learning.

However, as Langkawi is marked as a travel bubble destination, school reopening on the island will be based on Phase 4 SOPs starting October 4.

The ministry’s announcement applies to schools, vocational colleges, matriculation colleges, teachers’ training institutes, and private institutions registered with the ministry.

It added that private education institutions not registered with the ministry are expected to adhere to these SOPs. 

Earlier, Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said for states in Phase 2 of the NRP, only primary schools with special needs pupils at Special Needs Public Schools (SKPKs) and Integrated Special Education Programmes (PPKIs) would reopen, while for secondary schools, only Form 6 students in Semester 2 who will be sitting for their Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations at the end of October will be involved.

“For states under Phase 3 of the NRP, apart from special needs pupils at SKPKs and PPKIs, preschool pupils, Form 5 students, and other STPM students will be involved.

“For states under Phase 4 of the NRP, the first two weeks from October 3 to 17 will involve the same students to those in Phase 3 states, before expanding involvement to Years 1, 2 and 3 students from October 17 to 31, followed by Years 4, 5 and 6 (at the end of October),” he said.

For secondary schools, Radzi said learning sessions will begin with Forms 5 and 6 students from October 3 to 17, followed in stages by Forms 1, 2, 3 and 4 students. – The Vibes, September 24, 2021