Adib Noor & Daniel Lim
Schools resumed in-person learning yesterday, marking another return to normal after the country’s education system was disrupted by successive waves of COVID-19 infections that began two years ago.
Some 803 students returned to the classroom in Katok Secondary School yesterday.
“We are grateful that once again teachers and students are able to continue face-to-face learning in the classroom,” said the school’s Deputy Principal Norahtina Seriyati binti Haji Omar.
“This allows more engagement between teachers and their students,” she said, adding it would help especially in subjects requiring practical lessons.
“Students were limited to just learning theory during online classes,” she said.
Apart from regular classes, pre-vocational classes at Katok Secondary school also began allowing special needs students to attend school once a week.
Not all students are back however. Children aged five-11 will only resume in-person learning on May 14 while international schools begin their third school term on April 11.
In Belait District, Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah (PAPHRSB) Secondary School in Kampong Lumut saw the return of 747 students.
Acting Principal of PAPHRSB Secondary School Haji Kamal Bahrin bin Haji Jamal said he hoped students who had fallen behind will be able to catch up on the educational curriculum.
While there was adequate support for online classes from the Ministry of Education and “not a lot had fallen behind”, the acting principal said students attending in-person classes will be able to focus on studying, interacting with classes more and develop and grow alongside their friends and fellow students.
