KUALA LUMPUR: Postgraduate students pursuing their master's and doctoral degrees in research modes have been allowed to resume their academic activities under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the permission was granted to 31,508 postgraduate students of 462 higher education institutions nationwide.
The special ministerial meeting, he said, granted approval to the proposal by the Higher Education Ministry after taking into consideration that the postgraduate students were required to be physically present at laboratories, workshops and design studios in order to complete their research.
"These students need to use special equipment (only available at the laboratory and design studio) to carry out and complete their research.
"Hence, the government has allowed them to return to their campuses to complete their master's and doctoral degrees. It is estimated that there will be only 60 postgraduate students per one higher education institution," he said yesterday.
Ismail Sabri said all schools, including international and privately-run schools, were not allowed to resume operations during the CMCO.
Schooling session, he said, was among the activities in the list of prohibited activities during the CMCO, which has been extended for the second time from May 12 until June 9.
"No schools, including privately-run and international schools operating in the country, are allowed to reopen during CMCO.
"The Education Ministry will investigate if there are schools that are operating during this period and order them to close immediately."