KUANTAN: Despite only six pupils registering for Year One in the new school term today, teachers at SJK(T) Ladang Jeram along the Jalan Kuantan-Bypass here are not taking any chances.
The school had set up a canopy outside the main gate where teachers ensured the pupils wore face masks, maintained social distancing and had their body temperatures were taken.
A teacher then sprayed the pupils' hands with hand sanitiser and briefly explained to them on the Covid-19's dos and don'ts at the school premises before accompanying them into the school compound.
The new pupils had an extra reason to be cheerful as they were given name tags, a balloon each and goodie bags which contained stationery items and chocolates.
The school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman K. Janarthanan said although the school has only a small number of Year One pupils but they want to ensure the pupils strictly comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the Education Ministry.
"We had informed parents on the new SOPs so they will be well-prepared to send their children to school and the school wants the pupils to be focused on the classroom lessons.
"Although the Year One pupils seem a little too young to understand about the pandemic but they have no problem adapting to the "new normal" including following the floor tape marking in the classroom. Physical distancing in the classroom should not be a problem as the school only has six pupils in Year One," he said.
He said Indera Mahkota member of parliament Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, who is also the Communications and Multimedia Minister, had sponsored face masks, hand sanitisers and stationary items for the school.
Meanwhile, Janarthanan said eight students enrolled in Year Two today while the remaining pupils - Year Three to Year Six - will rejoin school next Monday.
"When everyone arrives next week, the school will have 42 pupils. The premises have been deserted for quite some and it is good to have the children back in school," he said, adding that the school has 10 teachers.
Nestled amid oil palm trees, the school has been deploying containers and makeshift rooms with structured plywood walls as their classrooms for almost two decades after the construction of the new school building on a 2ha site located less than 1km from here was delayed due to various issues.
The reopening of the new school term today begin with preschoolers, Year One and Year Two pupils; while Year Three to Year Six pupils will start attending school on March 8.