By William Isau
SIBU, Dec 14: Most parents here want the 2023/2024 academic year to begin in January instead of March as it will be easier for them to manage their children’s education.
A nurse, Ervina Tommy, 40, whose only child is in Form 1 next year, prefers that the academic year begins in January as has been in practice years ago.
“January is better. This is because it will be easier for us to remember when our children will progress to the next level (of education),” she said.
If based on the current academic calendar, Ervina held that her son would have to wait until March to begin his Form 1 studies.
“To me, the academic year before the Covid-19 pandemic is better and according to the standard practice,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, fitness instructor John Lam concurred with Ervina, saying that students would have to study for examinations instead of enjoying the year-end holidays like in previous years with the current arrangements.
“I prefer January because when the academic year begins in January they will be in a new class.
“But with the current academic calendar, they will have to study for their exam in January during the school holidays. So it is like no holiday for them,” he lamented.
An office worker, Simon Ho, also expressed his great desire for the Ministry of Education (MoE) to stick to the academic calendar before the Covid-19 disruption.
“Parents are confused and so am I on the March academic calendar. Why not just stick to the previous one?” he questioned.
The Ministry of Education announced on Dec 10 that next year’s schooling term will begin March 19, 2023, until March 9, 2024, for Group A, and from March 20, 2023, to March 10, 2024, for Group B.
Group A comprises Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu while Selangor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak and the three Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya are listed under Group B. — Dayakdaily
