KUALA LUMPUR – Private and international schools can decide for themselves if they wish to continue conducting classes online and not return to physical classes yet.
The Education Ministry, in a frequently-asked-questions (FAQ) sheet posted on its website yesterday, said the operations of these institutions depend on their respective academic calendars.
“The institutions can continue to implement teaching and learning at home based on suitability,” it said.
“Only private schools that implement the national curriculum will have to abide by the national academic calendar which will begin operating on January 20.”
According to the FAQ, the institutions that must abide by the national academic calendar are academic primary schools, academic secondary schools, religious primary schools, and religious secondary schools.
The ministry said private education institutions that intend to reopen physical classes can do so provided they abide by all the strict guidelines provided by the government.
Schools located in areas declared under the conditional movement control order are also allowed to begin physical operations.
The same also applies to private kindergartens, the FAQ stated.
Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin had on August 3 said the new school term for 2021 would begin on January 20. – The Vibes, January 5, 2021