BATU PAHAT, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Face-to-face classes in Johor resumed in stages today after being suspended for 10 days due to the haze.
The reopening of schools is in line with an improvement in air quality in the state, with checks through the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal showing that no areas in Johor recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 8 am today.
A Bernama survey at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bindu here found that pupils began arriving as early as 6 am, with most of them taking precautions by wearing face masks.
For SK Bindu Year Six pupil Muhd Qayyum Rayyan Mohd Najib, 12, he could hardly hide his excitement upon learning that Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) had ended.
“I packed my books and stationery yesterday. I was so excited to meet my friends and teachers again that I prepared my school uniform and went to bed early,” said the youngest of three siblings, who lives in Taman Bistari, Tongkang Pechah.
Qayyum acknowledged that learning in the classroom was far more effective than PdPR, saying direct interaction with teachers made it easier for him to understand the subjects.
His 50-year-old father, Mohd Najib Paiman, shared the same sentiment, expressing relief that physical classes were more structured and allowed pupils to concentrate better.
“Primary school pupils find it easier to concentrate in the classroom than when looking at device screens at home. PdPR also faces various constraints, such as unstable Internet access, battery issues and the need to share devices with siblings,” he said.
In JOHOR BAHRU, private sector employee Mohd Farhaan expressed relief that his child could return to school to sit for the year-end examinations.
“My child completed the year-end examinations at the religious school last week. I hope the haze does not worsen again as there is only about a month left before the current school term ends,” he told Bernama.
Thirty-seven-year-old housewife Nabillah Salleh shared a similar view, saying she had packed face masks in her children’s schoolbags as a precaution in case air quality deteriorated again.
“We are worried about our children’s health, especially during this examination week. Although the haze has gradually improved, we must still take precautions,” she said when met by Bernama at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sri Rahmat in Johor Bahru today.
Meanwhile, in MERSING, a survey at SMK Ungku Husin found students arriving enthusiastically as early as 7 am despite the drizzle.
The arrival of the students, who came either on foot, on motorcycles or were dropped off by their parents, proceeded smoothly and in an orderly manner.
The reopening of secondary schools in the district saw Form Five students sitting for the Bahasa Melayu oral test (UBBM) for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, while Form One students took the End-of-Academic-Session Assessment (UASA) and Form Four students sat for their year-end examinations.
Earlier, state Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali said schools in Johor would reopen in stages, with the first phase on Monday and Tuesday limited to students required to sit for examinations according to the stipulated schedule.
He said the second phase would begin on Wednesday (Oct 28), with all schools in Johor scheduled to resume normal operations, subject to prevailing air quality conditions.
Previously all schools in Johor were closed for 10 days due to the haze and worsening air quality, affecting over 1,000 schools and about 600,000 students.
-- BERNAMA