School holidays are cut in 2020 term
Published on: Wednesday, June 24, 2020
By: NST
.jpg "School holidays are cut in 2020 term")
The changes include reducing the mid-term break for the second school term. -NSTP/EIZAIRI SHAMSUDIN
Kuala Lumpur: The Education Ministry has amended the 2020 school schedule to help teachers complete lessons in the current academic year.This follows the three month unexpected “break” for pupils due to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed to curb the spread of the virus.
ADVERTISEMENT
The changes include reducing the mid-term break for the second school term to five days from the original nine days, applicable to all schools.
The year-end break for schools in group A involving Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu has been shortened from 42 days to just two weeks or 14 days.
While schools in category B involving Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya would have their year-end break shortened from the original 41 days to a mere 13 days.
“The period for face to face schooling based on the amendments are hence 168 days in total.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Online lessons during the three phases of the movement restriction orders also sum up to 56 days for those in group A and 55 days for those in group B,” said the Education Ministry in a statement, here, today.
It however said the days accounted for those in Form 5 and Form 6 while those in other levels would be updated on their lesson plans and the remaining days of learning when they resume school.
ADVERTISEMENT
The updated school schedule can be viewed at https://www.moe.gov.my/takwim/takwimpersekolahan-pindaan-2020
The Education Ministry in a statement on June 10 announced that schools nationwide would reopen on June 24 (tomorrow), but only for classes facing major examinations.
Several teachers had told the NST in April that a scheduling nightmare loomed ahead for teachers who would be forced to invigilate, mark and teach two batches of SPM and STPM candidates in 2021.
Their gripe is that the 2020 batch would take their examinations in the first quarter of next year and this means classes for the 2021 batch may have to take a back seat.
Lessons for the 2021 batch in the first six months of the year would also be interrupted by multiple breaks, including Chinese New Year, the semester break and Hari Raya holidays.
Teachers were also anxious to know when lessons could begin as they were putting in many hours to connect to students through Zoom and Google Classroom applications.
Some students may not have access to the Internet and as such would require personal attention from teachers due to a number of factors.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
