Starting this Sunday, schools around the country will revert to their pre-pandemic system and operate at full capacity.
The Education Ministry however, said, the use of face masks will remain compulsory for all school indoor areas.
Its Minister, Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Jidin said relaxations to the masking rule only applied in certain situations.
“This is when a person is alone while teaching in front of the class, for individuals with special needs, individuals with respiratory problems, during sports and recreational activities and children aged five and below.
“The use of face mask is encouraged when outdoors and in open areas in school premises or when carrying out group activities,” he said.
He said physical distancing measures will no longer be required, but encouraged in situations where face masks are not worn.
All other Covid-19 SOPs and restrictions including sports and outdoor activities, boarding school admissions, recess breaks and dining at the school canteens and parent visitations will resume as they were before the pandemic struck two years ago, he said.
“Physical school registration for Forms 1 and 4 students will be conducted from May 13 to May 16.
“Students who are symptomatic must be placed in an isolation room.
“The student must first undergo a self-test and, if the result returns negative, he or she can continue to attend classes by wearing a face mask. However, if the student tests positive, the teacher must contact the parents to pick up their children,” said the minister.
He said this relaxation of SOPs in the education sector is in line with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s SOP relaxation announcement recently.
Radzi said teachers and school managements are also required to return to school and conduct in-person lessons regardless of the teachers’ vaccination status.
Though the Education Ministry has lifted almost all the restrictions, it will continue to monitor, test and isolate any student who displays Covid-19 symptoms when they are at school.
