Teachers were up and ready as early as 6.30am to receive their students and ensure that they complied with the SOPs before entering the school premises.
Some of the students had arrived as early as 6.45am and were ecstatic to meet their teachers and friends.
Nashrul, the father of a seven-year-old boy, said it was his son’s first day at school and he seemed ready to start learning.
The boy did not look worried and said he was eager to make new friends.
Nashrul said he was not concerned with the pandemic as it seemed to be under control. “I’m confident with the SOPs in place. The teachers will play a main role in ensuring compliance. I’m not really worried,” he said.
Mohamad Ishak Abdul Rahman, 49, said he was glad that his son could go to school as home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) was difficult for his child.
The security guard said he did not want his child to be left behind in his studies, adding that physical lessons were more suitable as the boy could communicate with his teachers and friends.
“My nine-year-old son was very excited for school to begin. He woke up at 6am and did not even cry.
“Although I’m worried about Covid-19, what is there to do but to hope for the best and do our part? His education is very important,” he told FMT.
Asked if he would allow his child to be vaccinated in school, Ishak said he was fine with it as his son would not be afraid to receive his vaccine together with his friends.
Yati, who walked her 11-year-old son to school, said her child was filled with joy and even woke up at 5.30am to get ready.
Despite fears of the Omicron variant, Yati said she felt reassured and that the school would comply with the SOPs and keep her child safe.
“At the same time, I’m more comfortable with sending my son to school as his teachers will be able to teach and explain lessons more clearly,” she said.
She also said she would prefer her child to be vaccinated in school as it was more convenient and would ensure his safety.
Meanwhile, at SK Petaling Jaya, the students lined up in an orderly manner to get their hands sanitised and their temperatures checked.
SK Petaling 1 Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) chairman Mohd Azizi Abdul Rahim said the school had taken steps to ensure that strict SOPs were enforced and observed.
Azizi, who came to help coordinate traffic at the school, said everything went smoothly as all the students obediently complied with the guidelines.
He said all the teachers had been fully vaccinated and that it was a good time for schools to reopen.
“We observed that students who had been absent from physical lessons had been left behind in their studies even though online learning was available.
“However, the students can carry out their lessons better with the guidance of their teachers,” he said.
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