Back to school starting March 1

Preschool and primary students will return to school beginning March 1, following the interruption to physical classes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Standard 1 and 2 pupils will return on March 1, while other primary students will start school the week after.

Secondary students meanwhile will start attending school on April 4, except for those in Form 5 who will start classes on March 8.

Education Minister Radzi Jidin said the dates apply to all government and private schools under the purview of his ministry.

“What is important is that schools must be opened with strict adherence to SOPs to ensure the students attend lessons in a safe environment,” Radzi said.

The majority of students began the academic year at home, as health measures to ward off the spread of Covid-19 meant the implementation of home-based teaching and learning, also known as PdPR.

Classes had come to an abrupt halt last year in the wake of a fierce spike of infections.

While Form 5 and 6 students were initially allowed to return to the classrooms on Jan 20, the education ministry later announced that the former would resume home-based learning beginning Feb 10.