LANGKAWI: Year One pupil Safia Zahra Amir Rizal does not mind the discomfort of having her face mask on at all times and sanitising her hands often – as long as she gets to meet her friends and teachers in school.

       “My parents have been reminding me to wear a face mask and wash or sanitise my hands to prevent a Covid-19 infection.

       “It is not a problem for me at all as I have been doing that for more than a year,” said the seven-year-old student from SK Padang Matsirat.

       She said her parents have been advising her on the standard operating procedure (SOP) so that her friends and teachers are safe too.

       Year Two pupil Nur Alisha Safia Mohd Talmizi said she will keep her face mask on at all times and wash her hands regularly just the way she has been taught to by her parents, for almost two years now.

       “My father told me that if we don’t follow the SOP, then schools will be closed again and I won’t be able to meet all my friends and teachers.

       “I don’t want that to happen because I really miss them and it is no fun doing online lessons. When I am in school, I can at least talk to my friends face to face,” she said.

       Both Safia Zahra and Nur Alisha Safia were among the Year One, Two and Three children who returned to physical classes yesterday after months away following movement restrictions that were enforced amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

       With face-to-face classes allowed again in light of the decreasing number of Covid-19 cases, schoolchildren are ecstatic to be able to meet their friends and teachers again.

       Arissa Hayfa Muhammad Norazam, nine, also from SK Padang Matsirat, said she had been waiting eagerly to get back to her classroom.“I am so happy and excited to be back here again,” said the Year Three pupil.

       Arissa’s schoolmate Aidi Wajdi Muhammad Farizi, eight, said he finds it easier to follow lessons during a physical class compared to online lessons.

       “My favourite subject is English. Now that classes are held face to face, I can work on improving my English,” he said.

       A check by The Star at the school saw pupils accompanied by their parents entering the SK Padang Matsirat compound as early as 7am.Teachers waiting at the school gate welcomed the children before checking their body temperature and reminding them to sanitise their hands before entering their classrooms.

       Some 400 Year One to Year Three pupils at the school started their physical classes yesterday.

       It is learnt that about 6,000 pupils in Langkawi were involved in the reopening of schools there yesterday.