KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — The second Covid-19 pandemic year saw changes to the school academic calendar at some point across the country when the movement control order was implemented several times in the year.
On Jan 13, the government imposed targeted MCO in six states — Penang, Selangor, Federal Territories , Melaka, Johor and Sabah — which forced schools under the Ministry of Education to postpone face-to-face session. Following input and feedback from all parties, Senior Education Minister Datuk Radzi Jidin on Feb 19 announced that face-to-face school session would commence on March 1 involving preschool, Year 1 and 2 classes, while Year 3 to Year 6 session would start on March 8.
The opening of face-to-face school session brought relief to most parties, especially parents, but all good things came to an end after many schools in several states were forced to close following the detection of Covid-19 positive cases in schools. However, a total lockdown was later decided by the government through the National Security Council , on the social and economic sectors nationwide for 14 days beginning June 1, where all sectors were not allowed to operate, except for essential economic and service sectors listed by MKN.
In addition, the MOE also decided that the 2021 schooling session would be extended to March 2022 so that intervention among weak students could be carried out on the grounds that they have not attended classes for some time.