STUDENTS will start returning to campus on March 1, Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad said.

The National Security Council has approved the reopening of universities, she said in a statement.

Because of social distancing and quarantine rules, the students are required to return to university in batches.

She said students living in Covid-19 red zones, for example, will have to arrive on campus at least 10 days early to quarantine before they start classes, while students returning to school in Sabah and Sarawak will have to abide by the decisions of the respective state governments.

Noraini said the NSC has also approved the ministry’s proposal to allow new and existing international students of private and public universities to enter the country starting today.

This does not apply to students from the United Kingdom, however. Their return is deferred to a later date.

She said the foreign students will also have to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival. – January 1, 2021.