Rokiah Mahmud
After a long break from face to face learning, classes will resume for students of religious and Arabic schools across the country today including children aged five to 11.
Various programmes and activities will be carried out to familiarise the students with the school system, classmates, teachers as well as providing them with the understanding of guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) while at the school premises.
In explaining the resumption of the school session for religious and Arabic schools aired on Rampai Pagi of Radio Television Brunei (RTB) on Thursday, Acting Head of Religious School Division Muhammad Hady bin Bukhari and Head of Arabic School Division Pengiran Mohammad Aminuddin bin Pengiran Haji Hussin of the Islamic Studies Department shared on the programmes, activities, guidelines as well as SOPs that will be carried out.
Muhammad Hady said the face-to-face learning and teaching session will resume today regardless of the students’ vaccination status including those aged five to 11. For Arabic schools, this will include students of Sanah (Year) 5 and 6, and for religious schools, pre-schools to Primary 6 students.
According to Pengiran Mohamad Aminuddin, the Education Affairs Working Committee comprising members from the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) have prepared guidelines and SOPs as part of the effort to curb the transmission of COVID-19.
For students, COVID screening using the antigen rapid test (ART) kit will be conducted at homes assisted by parents or guardians apart from checking the body temperature before entering the school premises.
“The school will also conduct ring-fencing to reduce or prevent the transmission of COVID-19 among students with symptoms. They will be kept in the isolation room. All information and details about face-to-face learning and teaching session will be shared among school employees when the schools re-open”.
For religious schools, programmes including mass recitation of Surah Yaasiin, Ratib Al-Attas, Doa seeking for protection from COVID-19 and Selawat Tafrijiyyah followed by a number of briefings to students as well as ice-breaking session will be held, Muhammad Hady said.
On the second day, the students will participate in an orientation programme including learning about their school surroundings, teachers as well as friends, while on the third day, they will participate in activities themed ‘Bisaikan Wudhu Mu’, ‘Dirikan Sembahyang Mu’ and ‘Usai Bacaan Mu’ before starting their lessons at classrooms, he added.
Meanwhile, Arabic school students will participate in the ‘Back To School’ programme with activities including the recitation of Surah Yaasiin, Doa seeking for protection from COVID-19, recitation of verses from Al-Quran, Ratib Al-Attas as well as Selawat Tafrijiyyah, said Pengiran Mohammad Aminuddin.
Year 5 and 6 students will also undergo Ta’aruf week, motivational and counselling programmes, and health talk, he added.