Alor setar: The Kedah State Education Department (JPN) will continue to monitor temperature readings issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia) before deciding whether the implementation of Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) in the state will be continued.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kedah JPN director Abdul Rahim Mat stated that the PdPR, which began today and runs until next Tuesday, has been implemented in the districts of Kota Setar and Pendang after both districts recorded daily temperatures at Level 2 (37°C to 40°C) for three consecutive days.
A total of 86,030 students are involved in the PdPR implementation, comprising 65,634 students from 154 schools in Kota Setar and 20,396 students from 52 schools in Pendang. The implementation of PdPR is in line with the Ministry of Education's guidelines for the operation of educational institutions during hot weather. The current temperature has reached 37°C, prompting JPN to take the initiative to implement PdPR to minimise student movement and avoid exposing them to the heat, especially during peak hours at midday, Abdul Rahim said during a visit to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultanah Asma.
He mentioned that despite the hot weather, learning sessions are continuing as usual, and the JPN, schools, and teachers had made preparations following early warnings issued last Wednesday regarding the possibility of school closures due to the heat.
Continuous monitoring will be carried out, and the department will track temperature readings issued by METMalaysia. If conditions remain the same over the next three days, PdPR will continue, but if temperatures drop, face-to-face schooling will resume. The safety and health of students are priorities, as hot weather can lead to health complications. Parents are urged to help safeguard their children's health and ensure they are not exposed to the heat for prolonged periods.
Abdul Rahim acknowledged issues related to devices and internet connectivity faced by some students. However, schools have prepared worksheets to ensure that the syllabus, which had been planned earlier, can still be completed.
SMK Sultanah Asma principal Tengku Fariza Tengku Ibrahim reported that 201 out of 217 boarding students had returned to school and began PdPR sessions today. For Form 1 to Form 3 students, PdPR sessions run from 8 am to 1 pm, while for Form 4 and Form 5 students, sessions run from 8 am to 2 pm. Their PdPR schedules differ, with one-hour classes followed by a 15-minute break before resuming.