Education During MCO: Should You or Should You Not Be Absent?

For the states put under the Movement Control Order (MCO); face-to-face schooling sessions for educational institutions under the Ministry of Education (MOE) will only include students sitting for major local exams in 2020/2021, as well as corresponding international exams.

Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM), Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and Diploma Vokasional Malaysia (DVM) are among the exams.

For areas covered by the Conditional MCO (CMCO) or the Recovery MCO (RMCO), the academic calendars of the respective institutions will be focused on the operation of educational institutions and all types of private educational institutions (IPS) registered with the MOE, including international schools.

Boarding School Students

In a statement today, the MOE shared that students from full or semi-boarding schools in MCO areas sitting for the exams are permitted to return to their hostels from 16^th January, and that the school would issue a special letter of permission to allow students to travel to their respective hostels.

“Besides that, all primary school students and those from Form 1 to Form 4 in secondary schools in areas under the MCO will learn through the Teaching and Learning at Home (PdPR) method according to the suitability of teachers and students from 20^th Jan. This ruling also applies to Semester 2 SVM and Semester 2 DVM students (2020 intake) at Vocational Colleges,” according to the statement.

Special School Admission Assessment

According to the statement, the registered candidates for the Special School Admission Assessment (PKSK) to Form 1 who had not yet taken part in the assessment would do so between 20^th and 29^th January.

The assessment will take place between 15^th Feb and the 25^th for admissions to Form 4, and a special letter will be provided by the MOE to allow candidates to go to the specified assessment centres across the states or districts.

Teachers

Teachers would return to schools before 20^th January 2021 to their respective work stations.

“Teachers involved in the SPM / SVM / SKM / STPM / STAM / DVM examinations for years 2020 and 2021 in areas under the MCO need to attend school for face-to-face teaching and learning sessions. The school will issue a special letter of permission to enable teachers to cross states or districts to be present at the schools,” read the statement.

Universities

In addition, students enrolled in universities in MCO areas would need to remain in their respective universities to pursue hybrid learning, while for students of Institutes of Teacher Education (IPG) in MCO areas, teaching and learning for all programmes of study would be introduced online from 17^th January.

Kindergartens

MOE stated that all private kindergartens registered with the MOE may continue to operate face to face.

The MOE also urged all schools that are not registered with the MOE, including those under the respective state governments, to follow the guidelines laid down by the Ministry.