Teachers, Parents, Community Leaders Keep Johor Students Learning Amid Haze

JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Teachers' digital readiness, parental support, and community leaders’ vigilance have helped ensure the continuity of education for more than 600,000 students in Johor following the closure of all schools due to the haze today.

A Bernama survey in several districts found school premises deserted in compliance with the two-day closure directive, with home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) sessions continuing smoothly through the collective efforts of teachers, parents and community leaders.

In Mersing, Malay language teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bandar Endau, Nadia Natasha Mhd Roslaile, 28, said her experience conducting PdPR since her teaching practicum in 2020 had enabled her to quickly adapt her teaching methods.

“So far, the majority of students have provided positive feedback. Improved internet connectivity has enabled learning materials to be delivered via WhatsApp, Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia (DELIMa) email and Google Classroom, allowing us to monitor student engagement,” she said.

 DELIMa is an online learning platform that provides a learning management system and reference materials for teachers and students to access via internet-enabled devices.

In Batu Pahat, the responsibility of ensuring student safety and the continuity of education has also extended beyond schools and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs).

The Village Head of Pekan Parit Sulong, Shuhaimi Abd Hamid, said he had taken the initiative to disseminate information on the school closures via WhatsApp and Telegram, besides conducting morning patrols in the area.

“I conduct patrols to ensure no children are loitering outside their homes. These school closures are vital to protect them from health risks associated with the haze,” he explained.

For parents, ensuring that children have adequate facilities for PdPR is also a priority.

Clerk Norazimah Md Ismail, 46, said she made sure digital devices and home Wi-Fi connectivity were in good working order before leaving for work, enabling her two children, aged 13 and 16, to participate in PdPR lessons.

Meanwhile, SK Parit Sulong PTA chairman Muhadir Abdullah said the school administration and PIBG would continue using various communication channels, both physical and online, to ensure official information reached all parents.

The school closures affect all 1,198 schools and 617,258 students across Johor.

Yesterday, Johor State Education and Information Committee Chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali announced that all schools in the state would be closed for two days, Oct 8 and 9.

The Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, had decreed that all schools in the state close to safeguard the safety and health of students following the persistent haze and unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.

The Johor government has also urged employers to show consideration and provide appropriate flexibility to parents affected by the school closures.

-- BERNAMA