IPOH: Face-to-face school sessions commenced today for 2.7 million students nationwide, Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said.
Radzi said the opening of schools today involved 2,674,104 Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) students and 30,853 from Vocational Colleges (KV).
"This involves a total 7,778 (SK) and 87 (KV) for Years 2, 3, and 4. For Standard One alone, there are 442,828 pupils," he told reporters after visiting SK Syed Idrus in Kampung Kuang Hilir, Chemor here today.
Radzi said for secondary school students, they were still having home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).
"The attendance of Standard One pupils at all schools nationwide is good, considering that we are still living in the Covid-19 pandemic.
"What is important is that teachers and students comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the ministry.
"From our observation, parents seem ready to send their children to school. Praise to Allah, Standard One pupils are coming to school physically for the first time," he said.
He added that he hoped teachers and students continued to abide by the SOPs so school sessions could be conducted in a safe and organised manner.
"Parents are taking the opportunity and look prepared as the country will enter the endemic phase soon. Parents are more open and they are happy to see their children attending physical classes," he said.
Radzi is also scheduled to visit SK Pakatan Jaya, SK Seri Tanjung, SK Seri Kelebang, SK Manjoi 2, and SK Manjoi Satu.
In KOTA BARU, Kelantan, teachers at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Ismail 1 came out with fun ideas to welcome students today.
Apart from decorating the school compound with balloons and banners, they also used a teddy bear mascot to welcome the children as well as parents.
One of the teachers said they had planned this several weeks ago.
"We want our students to feel excited before starting their classes," said the teacher.
Meanwhile In MELAKA, Bernama reported that state Education and Technology Committee chairman Datuk Rais Yasin said 149,378 students; involving 315 primary and secondary schools, started their new school session today.
He said they comprised 84,619 primary school students and 64,759 secondary school students.
"Today, 238 primary schools and 77 secondary schools in Melaka are open for their new year school session with those having an enrolment of more than 600 students to implement the rotation system.
"The rotation system involves Year Three, Four and Five students to ensure effective implementation of the SOPs," he told reporters.
In JOHOR BARU, SK (P) Sultan Ibrahim saw students arriving as early as 6.30am and they were given face mask and welcomed to the school by Mickey Mouse, making the first day at school more lively and cheerful.
President of the school's Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), Mohd Hyffny Isa said no parents had raised concern over their children's health safety at the school and that all the teachers and staff had completed their Covid-19 vaccination and also received the booster dose.
In SELANGOR, a woman shared her daughter's excitement to begin school.
Her daughter, Wan Alesha Medina Wan Fathi Amir, is one of the Year One students at SK Bukit Kemuning 2, Shah Alam.
"She is a very friendly person and like to make friends. I have no worries about her and believe she can adapt herself with new friends," said Nurul Aida Shahrol, 37.
In PENANG, Bernama checks found that at SK Permatang Bertam, Kepala Batas, the drive-through concept for parents sending their children to the school is one of the SOPs implemented.
On arrival, students are also required to queue to scan their body temperature and then use hand sanitiser before entering their classroom.
In TERENGGANU, State Syariah Implementation, Education and Higher Education Committee chairman Satiful Bahri Mamat said a total of 21,287 Year One students and 21,196 Form One students began their school session today.
He said all schools that were affected by the floods last month had been cleaned and were in operation today.
In PAHANG, a total of 255,251 primary and secondary school students began their new school session today.
They comprised 150,607 primary school students, including 23,036 Year one students, he added.
There are 542 primary schools and 198 secondary schools in Pahang.
Meanwhile, a private sector employee, Faizal Ahmad, 39, said it was a different experience for him when sending his youngest child, Puteri Adzra Firzanisa, who is in Year One at SK (LKTP) Bukit Goh, Kuantan.
"Unlike her older siblings, I was able to send them to their classrooms, but with the SOP implemented now, it is only to the school gate, but I'm happy to receive a picture of my daughter in her classroom which was sent by her teacher through WhatsApp," he said.
In PERLIS, State Education director Naharudeen Othman said 64 primary schools recorded full attendance of their students, with 10 of the schools, which have an enrolment of more than 600 students, implementing the rotation system.
In KOTA KINABALU, Sabah Education director Datuk Dr Mistirine Radin said a total of 505,439 students of 1,071 primary schools and 221 secondary schools in the state began their new school session today.
They comprised 313,697 primary school students and 191,742 secondary school students, she said, adding that 22,950 students of 477 private schools in the state also began their new school session today.
In NEGRI SEMBILAN, today is the first day school for the new year session for 106,139 primary school students and 84,463 secondary school students in the state.
In KEDAH, checks by Bernama at several schools in Alor Setar noticed the students excited to be back at school, especially the Year One students.
Mashitah Abu Bakar, 63, said she sent her grandchild Aufia Media Nasir, 7, to SK Buluh Lima as both Aufia's parents had to go to work.
However, it is not a problem because the school is nor far from the house, she said.
In December last year, the Education Ministry had issued a revised 2021/2022 Session 3 school reopening based on the latest standard operating procedures (SOPs) brought about by the latest Covid-19 situation in the country.
The ministry said primary school students in Standard 1, 2 and 6; all Supplementary Food Programme (RMT) recipients, special needs students (MBK) from Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas (SKPK) and Integrated Special Education Programme (PPKI), may attend physical school sessions without the need of a rotation system.
For primary school students in Standard 3, 4 and 5, these categories of pupils will return to school on a rotation basis. -- Additional reporting from Bernama