KUCHING, May 28: All teaching and learning (PdP) activities in colleges and universities are to be conducted online and face-to-face lessons are not allowed until Dec 31, 2020.
Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), in a statement yesterday (May 27), however said that exceptions are given to five categories of students to return to campuses in stages.
In the first category, postgraduate research students in private and public institutions of higher learning are allowed back on campus immediately but only for those who are required to attend physical laboratories, workshop, design studio or use specialised equipment to complete their research.
Students in the other four categories will have to wait until the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) is lifted.
“Final year and semester certificate, diploma and degree students who need to complete clinical works, practicals, lab works, workshops, work in design studios, or are in need of specialised equipment, are allowed to carry out PdP activities on campus as early as July 1.
“Students in final year/semester who do not have access to learning needs and are in unconducive environments for PdP online, are allowed to return to campus and utilise infrastructure for online lessons as early as July 1,” MOHE explained.
For students with special needs under Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) education programme at polytechnics and community colleges, who require face-to-face guidance for PdP due to learning difficulties, MOHE informed that they would be allowed as early as Aug 1.
MOHE also listed the dates for new students in the 2020/2021 academic sessions at all public and private higher learning institutions including polytechnics and community colleges for certificate, foundation and diploma courses for SPM leavers, as well as for Bachelor’s Degree programme intake for Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) leavers and its equivalent.
“Admission for certificate and diploma students in polytechnics and community colleges, as early as July 1.
“Admission for foundation, certificate, diploma and Bachelor’s Degree students at private institutes of higher learning as early as July 1.
“Admission for foundation and diploma students in public universities, as early as Aug 1.
“Admission for undergraduate and postgraduate students for the research mode at public and private universities as early as Oct 1.”
MOHE also urged that academic activities on campuses be conducted according to the standard operating procedure (SOP) and to strictly follow all safety and health guideline as well as social distancing rule.—DayakDaily
