GEORGE TOWN: The year-end school break for 2021 begins on Friday (Feb 25), the first time it is being held in February – all because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

       And unlike previous year-end school holidays where parents and children would have planned a getaway to tourist attractions around the country, the agenda this time revolved around vaccinations.

       Nurhananiy Amir Osman, 11, from Methodist Girls' School here, said her father had already arranged for her to get the Covid-19 vaccine next week.

       "My father registered for my vaccination in MySejahtera and I am waiting for my turn to get the vaccine," she said on Friday (Feb 25).

       Last year, Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said the 2021 school year would be extended to March 2022.

       The year-end break, which normally begins in November, was initially pushed to Dec 10 and then delayed further to Friday due to the spread of Covid-19.

       Under the current school year format, enrolment of Year 1 pupils for 2022 would only take place in March and the school term this year would be known as the 2022/23 session.