DIFFICULT times seem to lie ahead for students and teachers as they are being left in the dark by the Ministry of Education (MoE) about what lies ahead for them after the total lockdown period ends.
Malaysia is being placed under a full lockdown for two weeks from June 1 to 14.
Previously, all primary and secondary schools nationwide were ordered to return to the home-based teaching and learning method (PdPR) when the education session resumes after the school holidays in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The directive affected some 2.7 million students at 7,780 primary schools and 2.03 million students at secondary schools around the country.
But what is in the cards for them after the total lockdown period ends? One cannot help but draw similarities between the situation last year and the current school closure.
By the looks of it, we seem to be back to square one with the PdPR. The one-year period seem to have made little difference.
Even now, there are plenty students and teachers out there who are still struggling to cope with the PdPR owing to limited resources and an inefficient and ineffective solutions that had been introduced by MoE.
During the latest PdPR session, many of the old problems remain unsolved, with issues such as the lack of equipment, unconducive learning environment, poor internet access and a lack of online teaching and learning materials still very much an issue.
While we are not expecting a top-notch education system, some indication of what MoE’s plans are for students and teachers – and adequate aid – wouldn’t be too much to ask for, would it?
And then, there’s the issue of the still-missing laptops for students from B40 families that were supposed to be distributed to primary and secondary school students in February 2021 to help them attend online classes.
On April 26, it has been reported that over 1,000 students have received their devices so far.
Based on the current supply chain capacity, it was expected that at least 50,000 students were to receive their devices by end-May, with the balance expected to be distributed by end-September 2021.
But May, unfortunately, came and gone and brought with it no further news updates.
By right, the recent announcement of the full lockdown should have spurred all those involved in the initiative to work harder and faster to distribute the laptops.
Why is this not the case? Why is the Government hell-bent on sticking with the end-September timeline for the laptop distribution when students were already struggling right now?
It’s disappointing that the relevant authorities have been keeping mum about the whole situation until now. It’s time you pull your socks up, MoE, because the people deserve an answer.
Surely you can do better than this. – June 7, 2021
