KUCHING: The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) recently announced that only students sitting for major examinations will undergo face-to face classroom session starting Wednesday (Jan 20).
Its chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas announced that schools will only be open for students who will sit for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM), Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and Diploma Vocational Malaysia (DVM) examinations for 2020 and 2021 as well as the equivalent international examinations.
“Other students such as primary school students including pre-school and Year One to Year Six, as well as secondary school students from Form One to Form Four, however, will be doing home-based learning methods,” he said.
In response to this, New Sarawak Tribune interviewed parents to get their reactions on the decision made by SDMC.
Noraini Mohd Jalil
It is a good call by the SDMC as it is one of the ways to break the Covid-19 chain. However, the effectiveness of the students to learn efficiently will deteriorate. I believe that the face-to face learning is still the best method especially for younger children.
Sharon Valentine
As a parent, I agree with the SDMC’s decision because the children’s health is very important. What bothers me is that children will lose their when they do online learning at home.
Nehara Imran
As a parent, I am quite disappointed that the children are not allowed to go to school. Online learning may not be as effective because the children will only answer questions given by the teachers instead of actually studying, and will find it a bit harder to understand the subjects and topics that they are studying.
Aszilena Awi
It is good as many parents are worried about their children’s health. However, there are several difficulties when children are learning from home. Not all students have good internet access as well as the devices needed for online learning and some even have to share the device with their working parents.
Elis Irak
Before this, I would see children excited making preparations to go to school and they would tell their parents everything that happened in school, especially for those who are in pre-schools. With online learning from home, they will not be exposed to having and socialising with a lot of friends at their age. It is rather sad knowing that they would not know how a school environment is like.
Noraini Salleh
In a way, this is good as it limits contact and exposure to those who might carry the virus. But what I am worried about is having to use online learning. It is rather difficult for children to focus on studying while being distracted by various things at home.
