Online classes for 2 weeks after Aidilfitri break

School sessions will be held online for two weeks after the Aidilfitri break through the home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) method, Education Minister Radzi Jidin said today.

He said PdPR would be held for Group A, comprising schools in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Johor, from May 16 to 27, while schools in other states (Group B) would have PdPR sessions from May 17 to 28.

Radzi said the decision was a precautionary measure which took into consideration the risk of community infection due to the celebrations, in the absence of data on the trend of infections during Aidilfitri.

“We do not know what the trend of infection among students might be like after Aidilfitri celebrations as schools were closed last year.

“Our concern is the hostels. What happens is, students are infected outside of school, then the virus is transmitted among their friends. This happens at boarding schools as well as daily boarding schools.

“It is a big component. We have 170,000 students at daily boarding schools and nearly 100,000 at boarding schools,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

He said the announcement was being made ahead of time to allow teachers time to prepare.

“Teachers can choose the best method to teach,” he added. “It’s up to what suits the teachers and students.”

Radzi also said the education ministry does not want schools to be mired in allegations if infections occur among students after the Aidilfitri break.

Aidilfitri holidays will begin on May 11. Schools in Group A will take special or replacement holidays on May 9 and 10 while those Group B will take this holiday on May 10.

This means schools in Group A will be on break from May 7 to 15 and those in Group B will be on holiday from May 8 to 16.

Radzi said PdPR would only be held for the two-week period and would not continue beyond that.