Malaysia: School Reopening Runs Smoothly In Line With The New Normal

KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- The reopening of schools ran smoothly Wednesday in full compliance with the recovery movement control order (RMCO) standard operating procedures (SOP) and in line with the new normal in the teaching and learning (PdP) process. After almost three months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2,440 secondary schools across the country finally reopen their doors to enable 500,444 students who are sitting for their 2020 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) examinations and equivalent examinations to get back on track and catch up on their studies. Bernama check on a number of schools nationwide found that as early as 7 am many teachers wearing face masks and even face shield have been waiting outside the school gate, armed with infrared thermometer guns, to check students’ body temperature before allowing them in. At the same time, incoming students were also seen wearing face masks and observing social distancing. In the state of Selangor, most corridors at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Gombak Setia were found to have been marked with stickers to ensure social distancing both for the students and the teachers. Recess time for the fifth formers and the upper sixth formers was also divided into three sessions to avoid congestion at the canteen. A fifth former of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Seksyen 7 in Shah Alam, Suraya Aishah Badrul Hisham, shared her excitement for being able to return to school and “reunite” with her friends and teachers despite having to cope with the new normal. “When the government announced that school will reopen today, I was so happy. I made sure that my uniform, shoes and bag are all ready since last week. I’m so excited to reunite with my friends and teachers even though there were procedures to comply with. It is definitely not as boring as studying alone at home,” she said. The girl also described the reopening of school as the best chance for her to prepare herself to sit for her SPM examination. “At home, we only study online...it’s kind of difficult to ask for clarification and to really understand what the teacher was saying without being there, face to face. So yes, I’m very happy to be able to return to school,” she said. In Putrajaya, teachers at SMK Putrajaya Presint 8 (1), were clearly seen carrying out body temperature checks on students even before they got out of their parent's car to ensure only healthy ones were allowed to enter the school premises, while those who are symptomatic were told to go home. Students coming by bus were required to walk about 50 metres from the bus stop to the foyer for the temperature screening and if their temperature were slightly above 37.5 Celcius, they were quickly taken to an isolation room until their parents or guardian came to take them home. -- END