PUTRAJAYA: Schools nationwide will revert to the pre-pandemic schooling system and operate at full capacity from Sunday.
Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Jidin, in announcing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), however, said the use of face masks remain compulsory in school indoor areas, except in certain situations.
"Relaxation to the indoor mask ruling applies in certain situations such as when a person is alone, while teaching in front of the class, for individuals with special needs, individuals with respiratory problems, during sports and recreational activities and children aged five and below.
"The use of face mask is encouraged when outdoors and in open areas in school premises or when carrying out group activities," Radzi said in a press conference on school operations at the ministry today.
Radzi further said physical distancing measures will no longer be required, however, is encouraged in situations where face masks are not worn.
All other Covid-19 SOP and restrictions including sports and outdoor activities, boarding school admissions, recess breaks and dining at the school canteens and parent visitations will resume as they were before the pandemic struck two years ago, he said.
"Physical school registration for Form 1 and Form 4 students will be conducted from May 13 to May 16.
"Students who are symptomatic must be placed in an isolation room.
"The student must first undergo a self-test and, if the result returns negative, he or she can continue to attend classes by wearing a face mask. However, if the student tests positive, the teacher must contact the parents to pick up their children."
He said this relaxation of SOP in the education sector is in line with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin's SOP relaxation announcement yesterday.
Radzi said teachers and school management are also required to return to school and conduct in-person lessons regardless of the teachers' vaccination status.
Although the Education Ministry has lifted almost all the restrictions, it will continue to monitor, test and isolate any student who displays Covid-19 symptoms when they are at school.
He said the ministry will also do away with the two weeks once testing regulation for schoolgoing children.
"They will not need to self-test on the first day and in the middle of the month anymore. However, parents whose children display any symptoms must conduct a self-test and refrain from sending them to school.
"Parents must inform the school if their child is unable to attend school," he added.
Radzi added that although the relaxation comes into force on May 1, the compulsory school uniform rule will only be fully effective on June 12, at the start of the second school term.
"We are giving the students and parents time before we make school uniforms compulsory for students attending school again after a long break".