By Yap Zhe Wen
Parents and children appear to have mixed feelings over the decision by the Ministry of Education to reopen the schools on October 3. One parent has requested the government to postpone the opening of school until the herd immunity is achieved.
Jackie Mah, a Year 5 student from SJKC Lai Meng, Kuala Lumpur said that he agreed with the school reopening as this would allow him to meet up with his classmates whom he has not seen for a while.
Mah said that he missed the time when they could play various board games and had fun listening to each other’s stories and hobbies. “We used to exchange storybooks and some Pokemon cards. All these seem so distant now and I really miss seeing my friends in the flesh,” he said. “Studying online on the personal computer at home has taken a toll on us as we are already starting to feel the fatigue and boredom too overwhelming on us lately.”
Aidan Lee, a Year 6 student from SJKC Kuen Cheng 2, Kuala Lumpur who has always been a top student in his class throughout his primary school, said he disagreed with the school reopening. “I think most of us are already settling well with the current way of online study and revision,” he said.
Lee said he enjoyed group projects. “I have been able to collaborate online with a few like-minded friends since the middle of last year,” he added. “The period of time away from school has allowed us so much extra time for him and we are able p to go into deeper thinking, due to time saved from travelling to school and extra-curricular activities in school.”
Explaining further his preference, Lee said that he no longer wakes up early, unlike physical school when he had to get changed into school uniform, take his early breakfast, and catch the school van. “Right now, I can enjoy more restful sleep and eat a proper, hearty breakfast prepared by my mom,” he said. “We believe that the secret to becoming a top student is by getting good and sufficient night sleep, which is what the period of MCO is giving me.”
Lee’s classmate, Tom Chan, however, concurred. Chan feels that the current way of studying enables him to devote more time into completing his homework and research more into his own area of interest.
“I hope to be a veterinarian one day to save sick animals,” he said. Chan has a pet dog at home and during the lockdown, he was able to spend more time taking his dog for walks, feeding and playing with it. Spending time with his pet makes him happy and relaxed.
A mother who prefers to be known only as Madam Chong said that she is concerned about the safety of her twin daughters who are in Year 5 at SJKC Lai Meng, Kuala Lumpur.
“Since children aged between 12 and 17 years old have not received their vaccination, I think that the Ministry of Education should not rush into the decision to reopen the schools. Instead, when our state or country has reached 80% of the vaccination rate for children, only then it is proper to let our children return,” she opined.
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