CLASSES in lower primary school should be halted as the pupils are too young to observe social distancing, said a lawmaker today.

Ahmad Fadhli Saari (Pasir Mas-PAS) said teachers in the primary schools were finding it hard to control the children and ensure they practised social distancing. 

“How can teachers be expected to watch the pupils for 12 hours a day?” said Fadhli during the debate on the supplementary budget bill.

He said the younger schoolchildren wanted to play and talk to their friends in school and it was impossible for the teachers to prevent that.

“This is the reality. And if this is the case, maybe the government should consider stopping the school session for standards 1 to 3,” said Fadhli.

Mohamad Alamin (Kimanis-Umno) also urged the government to suspend classes for the younger pupils.

“I have also received requests from parents in villages and rural areas for the government to consider discontinuing school for those in standards 1-3.

“They can have an extended school holiday until December as health is more important.”

School was reopened in stages starting June 24 with virus prevention measures in place.

These include taking body temperatures, placing tables a metre apart and limiting a class to 20 pupils.

Sports, extracurricular actives and assemblies are barred. – August 11, 2020.