Students, all wearing face masks, queued to enter their classrooms and attended flag raising ceremonies in their schoolyards across the Southeast Asian country as the government phases out remote learning.

There is very little internet access and no electricity or water supply in Kampung Sapit, but the villagers do what they can to get by.

They raise questions about the study's methodology and substance.

Primary One to Five students will move to home-based learning from Sept 27 to Oct 6 while Primary Six students will go on a study break from Sept 25 before sitting for the exam.

A 'blended learning' programme has been plagued with problems as most students in the Philippines don't have a computer or internet at home.

Education Minister Radzi Jidin says this is important to ensure that students are not kept away from school for too long.

Educationists say it is difficult to change the school calendar in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The education ministry says face-to-face sessions will begin in stages from Sept 1.

Low student attendance rates may be the result of a complex of inter-related issues, all of which would have to be addressed to involve students actively in meaningful learning activities during the pandemic.

Many from poor or rural families lack the facilities needed to properly follow home-based teaching and learning, while others may have lost the drive to continue studying.

Education Minister Radzi Jidin says this is a precautionary measure as there is no existing data on the spread of infections during Aidilfitri since schools were closed last year.

Online teaching and learning is here to stay and academics need to review processes and adopt some simple tips to make online learning more effective.