GEORGE TOWN: Almost 230,000 primary and secondary students started their new schooling session at 398 schools statewide today.
State Education Department director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad said, of the total, 19,862 were Year One pupils.
He said, for primary school from Year One to Year Six, a total of 4,887 classes were opened, housing 128,480 pupils.
"From the total, 1,127 classes were opened in the northeast district; southwest district (712 classes); Seberang Prai Utara (SPU) district (1,159 classes); Seberang Prai Tengah (SPT) district (1,202 classes); and Seberang Prai Selatan (SPS) district (687 classes).
"The number of boys in the northeast district is 15,327 and girls, 14,578; southwest district (9,621 boys and 8,978 girls); SPU (15,781 boys and 15,290 girls); SPT (16,423 boys and 15,754 girls); and SPS (8,619 boys and 8,109 girls)," he told newsmen when met at SMKA Perempuan Al-Mashoor here today.
Abdul Rashid said the first week of the new school session would be filled with educational and entertainment activities to attract the attention of the students.
"As announced by the Education Ministry, we will start the school session with an approach in the form of entertainment and simple project-based learning during the operation of teaching and learning (PdP) in the first week of school to attract students' interest in learning.
"Activities that emphasise noble values are also among the fillings recommended by the ministry in providing thorough preparation for the formation of students at the beginning of the school session. Among the activities provided are leisure, sports and so on," he added.
Abdul Rashid said, in the first week, the Parents and Teachers Association (PIBG) as well as guardians (of students) were encouraged to hold meetings and discussions with the school.
"We want to create a good relationship between parents, and the school administrator so that the whole process will run smoothly."