KUALA LUMPUR – When the new school term starts on March 20/21, primary schools with a total enrolment of more than 600 students will continue their rotation system for classes in Standard 3, 4 and 5.
However, the rotation system will not apply to students in preschool, Standard 1, 2 and 6, special classes, and all those under the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT).
This directive also applies to expatriate and international primary schools with similar enrolment. However, the rotation system will not be for primary schools – under the government and private – with an enrolment below 600.
As for secondary schools (with the exception of boarding schools), students will have to undergo online classes for two weeks when the new term starts until April 3/4, according to Education Minister Datuk Radzi Jidin.
After that, the rotation system will be lifted for all classes, including Form 6, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), pre-university and other similar international exams.
The same applies to students of full boarding schools for Form 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, IBDP, pre-university classes, with the exception of those enrolling for Form 1.
For Form 1 students who have secured places at full boarding schools, they either begin their classes with home-based learning or temporarily attend (menumpang) a day school nearest to their homes.
As for when Form 1 students in full boarding schools can attend regular classes, Radzi said: “We will announce at a later date.”
“However, if private boarding schools have the capacity to organise all students, they are allowed to include Form 1 students when the school term starts.”
Meanwhile, classes at vocational colleges will be conducted normally based on the respective academic syllabi and not on a rotational basis. The same applies to matriculation colleges and teacher training colleges.
On school uniforms, Radzi said while students are encouraged to wear their uniforms, those who do not will not be penalised as long as they don “polite and appropriate” clothing.
As for attendance, students will not face disciplinary action if their parents choose to not send them to in-person classes, however, parents or guardians must inform the school of this decision for record purposes.
He added that 10% of students will be required to conduct self-tests for Covid-19 at home and these tests will be provided by schools and the results must be reported to schools.
“We will continue to monitor the (Covid-19) situation to determine when those currently on rotation basis can return to regular classes.”
As of midnight, Malaysia logged another highest daily Covid-19 caseload with 33,209 infections as cases surge in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Kedah and Johor.
The country also logged another 17 clusters, of which, 12 are education clusters. – The Vibes, March 5, 2022
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