SCHOOLS and other learning institutions in Kedah and Kelantan will recommence on October 31 while those in Penang, Perak and Sabah will reopen on November 1 as the states move from phase 2 to 3, said the Education Ministry.

The resumption of in-person classes outlined in phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) encompasses preschools, special needs learners (primary, secondary and vocational) and integrated programmes for special education, form 6 students in their second semester, pre-university for sports schools, exam classes at all schools, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, and international exam classes.

“(When) a state that moves into a new phase, new guidelines will take effect two weeks after its announcement,” the ministry said in a statement today.

Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and Sabah will enter phase 3 of the NRP on October 18.

“Operations at education institutions in Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and Sabah will continue as phase 2 on October 18.

“Operations for these institutions in Kedah and Kelantan will be based on Phase 3 (guidelines) only from October 31, and in Penang, Perak and Sabah, beginning November 1.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry said primary school pupils in years 1, 2 and 3 and secondary school students in form 3 located in Malacca, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya – areas that will enter phase 4 tomorrow – will return to school on November 1.

Classes for primary school pupils in years 4, 5 and 6, as well as remove class and forms 1 and form 2 in lower secondary schools in the four states will resume on November 8, it added.

On Friday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said no states or territories will be left in phase 2 of the NRP, as the last of them enter phases 3 and 4 following improved Covid-19 indicators.

Effective Monday, Kelantan, Perak, Penang, Sabah and Kedah will move from phase 2 to 3.

Malacca and the Klang Valley, which covers Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, will move from phase 3 to 4.

Ismail said this was decided by the Special Committee on Pandemic Management at its meeting and is based on the high vaccination rate achieved in the areas.

On October 12, Education Minister Dr Radzi Jidin said schools nationwide were to reopen on October 3 at 50% capacity in classrooms.

Radzi had said pupils in states under phases 3 and 4 will be divided into two groups and will take turns to attend physical classes.

The minister 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. – October 17, 2021.