THE Education Ministry (MOE) has no plans in the near future to start the school session in January, says Education Director-General Pkharuddin Ghazali.

He said one thing the MOE needs to consider with regard to the Education Act 1996 is that the law requires 190 schooling days per session, and said reverting to the January schedule will involve sacrificing school holidays.

“We can revert (the school session to January) quickly by sacrificing the available holidays, (but) if there are no school holidays, when can teachers, students and parents take a break?” 

“We have to maintain the 190-day (session) and move it little by little. It is not something that can be implemented in a short period, (it) will take several years with sacrifices from all parties,” he told reporters at a media conference for the opening of the 2023/24 school session in Putrajaya today. 

Pkharuddin said the current session should be viewed positively as the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia is being held during the February-March holidays to avoid the monsoon season. 

“We are trying our best to provide the best convenience to all parties,” he added. – Bernama, March 15, 2023.