JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 12 — The Johor State Education Department (JPNJ) will issue daily notifications on the extension of school closures due to the haze, despite the state government having announced a five-day extension yesterday.
State Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali said the measure was part of the administrative requirements that JPNJ had to follow and was subject to directives and protocols set by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
“I hope all parties understand that these daily notifications are part of the administrative procedures JPNJ must comply with and do not conflict with the state government’s announcement,” he said in a post on his official Facebook page yesterday.
He stressed that ensuring the safety and well-being of students in the state should be the priority for all parties at this time.
Earlier, many parents took to social media to express concern over the extension of school closures in Johor and seek clarification from the state government and JPNJ.
This follows JPNJ’s announcement today that all schools would be closed on Oct 12, while the state government had earlier announced that the closure would be extended until Oct 16, following the two-day closure on Oct 8 and 9.
In the same statement, JPNJ said Home-based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) would be implemented throughout the closure period to ensure that students’ learning was not disrupted.
The decision to allow students at fully residential schools to return home rests with the respective principals, taking into account current risk assessments and students’ safety and well-being.
Meanwhile, JPNJ said the Year 4 Learning Matrix (MPT4) and other related assessments would be postponed and rescheduled in accordance with directives from the Examination Syndicate and JPNJ.
It also said the Specific School Admission Assessment (PKSK), scheduled for Oct 12, had been postponed, with the new date to be announced by the relevant department.
The revised date for the PKSK for affected candidates would be announced in accordance with JPNJ’s directives, the statement said.
JPNJ also said teachers and officers involved were not required to be present during the assessments and instructed schools and PKSK centres to notify parents, guardians and candidates of the changes. — Bernama