KUALA LUMPUR: Face-to-face learning in areas affected by the Movement Control Order (MCO) will only involve students sitting for major examinations.
Senior Education Minister Dr Radzi Jidin said these include students sitting for the 2020/2021 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM), Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM), Diploma Vokasional Malaysia (DVM), and other equivalent international examinations.
Students in boarding schools who will be sitting for these exams are allowed to return to their hostels starting Jan 16, with a special authorisation letter being issued by the school, allowing for interstate or inter-district travel.
"All primary school pupils and Form 1 to Form 4 secondary school students in MCO areas will undergo teaching and learning programmes (PdP) at home, according to the suitability of teachers and students starting Jan 20.
"The same also applies to Semester 2 SVM students and Semester 1 DVM students at vocational colleges," he said in a statement tonight.
His statement followed Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement earlier today on the implementation of the MCO in several states and federal territories.
Radzi added that Form 1 students who have yet to sit for their Pentaksiran Kemasukan Murid ke Sekolah Khusus (PKSK) assessment would sit for them between Jan 20 and Jan 29.
Meanwhile Form 4 entry assessments would be held between Feb 15 and 24.
"For school operation purposes, all teachers must return to their teaching stations before Jan 20.
"Teachers involved in the 2020/2021 SPM/SVM/SKM/STPM/STAM/DVM examinations in MCO-affected areas must attend school to conduct face-to-face PdP," he added.
Radzi said students in Matriculation Colleges in MCO areas who are already on campus must remain there to undergo hybrid learning.
As for Teacher Education Institutes, PdP for all programmes would be held online starting Jan 17.
"All private kindergartens registered with the Education Ministry can operate face-to-face learning."
Radzi said schools in areas placed under the Conditional MCO and Recovery MCO, including all categories of private education institutes and international schools registered under the ministry, could continue based on their respective school calendars.
"The ministry recommends that these rules also be followed by schools not registered under the ministry, including schools under state governments.
"The ministry will conduct continuous monitoring of educational institutions' operations to ensure the health and safety of all."