MUAR: School students sitting for major examinations will be allowed to return to their classrooms by next week for face-to-face learning, says the Education Minister.

       Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said the ministry expected the number of students to return to their schools nationwide by Nov 8 to increase under the National Recovery Plan (NRP).

       “Students who are sitting for their examinations can return to their classrooms as well, as long as their schools have recorded more than a 90% vaccination rate,” he told a press conference after visiting SK Semasih in Panchor yesterday to inspect the school’s preparations to welcome students back.

       He added that more than 1.3 million students had returned to school since Monday in states and territories under Phase Four of the NRP, such as the Klang Valley and Melaka.

       “By next week, the number will increase with students in Johor being allowed back in school as the state is also under Phase Four,” said Radzi.

       In September, the ministry introduced a rotation system whereby only half of the number of students are allowed to attend school for face-to-face learning, while the other half continued with home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).

       Radzi also reminded schools, in particular teachers, not to take action against students for not wearing their full or proper uniform.

       “We still receive complaints from parents that there are teachers who have issued warnings to their students for not showing up in full uniform.

       “I would like to stress that the ministry has allowed students to wear their own clothes, as long as the attire is proper and neat, until the end of this year’s school term, which is the middle of December,” he said, adding that schools should make it easier for their students to return.

       The move by the ministry came as many students found their school uniforms and shoes no longer fit them, while some parents could not afford to buy new uniforms due to financial constraints caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

       Radzi also said the Education Services Commission (SPP) was in the midst of issuing placement letters to some of the 18,702 graduates who were successful in their interviews to fill up teaching vacancies.

       “We are doing it in several phases as the number of applicants is quite large, but SPP has already completed the first phase, and we are moving to the next phase.

       “The criteria for initial selection are based on candidates that have a background in educational studies,” he said, adding that the ministry is continuously addressing the teacher shortage as the issue has been a longstanding one.