The Malaysian Insight

A SHORTENED school day and halving the number of pupils in a classroom are among the new rules drawn up by the national teachers’ union to help educators maintain physical distancing when schools reopen.

The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) told The Malaysian Insight that the guidelines, drawn up after a study involving teachers and academics, will be sent to the Education Ministry soon for consideration.

The guidelines are aimed at helping principals organise the movement of teachers, staff and pupils during school sessions to prevent crowding and physical contact, said NUTP president Amiruddin Awang.

The standard operating procedure also deals with pedagogy, or teaching methods, that is tailored to the “new normal”, where face-to-face interaction is kept to a minimum, he said.

“We don’t have a comprehensive SOP yet for all schools as we have to wait for the ministry to announce that.

“However, we have drawn up some fundamental principles and rules that all teachers and administrators should follow, so that we can make sure there is physical distancing between students, staff and teachers.

“To really make this work, we must also get the cooperation and commitment of parents.”

For instance, if a classroom has 30 pupils, they will be divided into two groups of 15 and take turns coming to school, he said.

“This is to ensure that desks are spaced a minimum of 1m apart. One group will come to school, and the other group will get their assignments and lessons online at home.

“Then, in the next three days or a week, the other group comes back to school, while the earlier group stays at home.

“We will leave the rotation of students to each individual school. Some schools can rotate once every three days, while others would prefer rotating once a week.”

Another suggestion is for all pupils, teachers and staff to wear masks, as well as for extra sinks to be placed strategically around blocks of classrooms to encourage regular hand-washing.

Daily school sessions will be shortened to four hours, from 8am to 12pm, and the amount of subjects taught per day will be capped at four.

Group activities will be replaced with individual assignments so that pupils can remain at their desks at all times, eliminating physical contact.

Also, recess times will be staggered between classes so that crowds do not build up at the canteen, while tables will be sanitised after each period.

“Although we reduced the number of subjects per day, we are confident that we will still be able to complete all subjects in the curriculum,” said Amiruddin.

Schools have been closed since the movement-control order began on March 18 to prevent children from contracting the highly infectious Covid-19.

There are still 1,292 active cases in Malaysia, with the total number of infections since March standing at 7,877.

The death toll from the pandemic remains 115, while 6,470 patients have recovered.

The ministry has not yet decided on when to reopen schools, saying the announcement will be made two weeks before the actual date.

Priority will be given to forms five and six as the students have to sit national exams next year.

Amiruddin said NUTP is aware of the challenges of online learning as some students have trouble accessing the internet at home.

“Online lessons are not going to be streamed live, but recorded so that pupils can download them using their parents’ smartphones.

“Also, homework and assignments will be given out to those whose turn it is to study at home.

“When it is their turn to come back to class, they can seek clarification from their teachers on aspects they do not understand.

“The feedback from teachers is that they are committed to ensuring all their pupils are not left behind in lessons in the new normal.” – June 3, 2020.