SCHOOLS nationwide are set to reopen on October 3 with 50% capacity in classrooms, Education Minister Radzi Jidin said. 

In a press conference in Putrajaya today, Radzi, however, said schools in states under phases one and two of the national recovery plan will remain closed.

He said pupils in states under phases three and four will be divided into two groups and will take turns to attend classes physically. 

“We will split classes into two groups and will do this for all classes so that only 50% of pupils will be in school. Pupils will take turns to attend the classes,” he said. 

“For instance, group A will come to school for a week, and group B will learn from home. The following week, group B will attend physical class and group A will learn from home.

“We do this because our children have not been to school for a long time and we want them to feel the new normal and at the same time, we want them to be safe.”

Radzi said the rotation system will not be implemented for special needs pupils, form six students in their second semester, boarding school pupils, preschoolers aged four to six, students sitting international examinations, schools with low enrolment (fewer than 150 pupils) and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Year 2 students. 

“Primary and secondary school children in phase two states will learn from home, except for special needs children, form six students, those sitting international exams and those attending sports schools. 

“Preschool children in phase three states can go to school without rotation while primary and secondary school children will continue to learn online. 

“However, high school students in these states who are sitting international and major public exams are to attend physical classes on a rotation basis,” Radzi said, adding that pre-university students in sports schools and those in exam classes at boarding schools must attend in-person classes without rotation. 

On students in phase four states, he said those in primary schools do not need to attend physical classes between October 3/4 and 17/18, except those with special needs and preschoolers. 

“From October 17 to October 31/November 1, pupils in years four, five and six will undergo online classes while those in years one, two and three will attend physical classes on rotation,” he said. 

“Then, from October 31 to December 10, all primary school children in phase four states will attend physical classes on rotation.” 

For high school students in phase four states, he said from October 17 to 31, pupils in remove classes and forms one and two will undergo online classes while those in forms three and four will attend school on rotation. 

“So, after two weeks, from November 1 to December 10, students at all secondary schools, including private, international and expatriate institutions, in phase four states will attend physical classes on rotation,” he said. – September 12, 2021.