DADDY PLEASE DON’T GO: Hashim Lazim trying to coax his son into entering the classroom at Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Uda yesterday. —Bernama photo
KOTA BAHARU: Schools reopened in Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah yesterday with Kelantan having a total of 31,202 Standard One pupils starting their primary education statewide.
Bernama checks on Sekolah Kebangsaan Kamil 3, near Pasir Puteh here, found that most of the classes were filled with pupils in tears while being comforted by their anxious parents.
One of the pupils could not even be persuaded to step into the classroom as he cried and held tightly to the flag pole outside the classroom, while another had to be chased around by the teachers.
“It was a stressful occasion.
Once we arrived at the school, my son, Muhammad Hazriq Iskandar Muhd Faiz started crying and running around and refused to enter the classroom despite being in very high spirits while getting dressed earlier,” said Liza Abdul Hadi, 28.
Despite his cries, Liza saidshe just had to leave her son in the hands of the teachers, as she had to go to work and did not wish to disturb the learning process.
“I think the sooner the parents leave, the better for their children to get used to life in the classroom,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Education Department Director Mohd. Ghazali Ab Rahman, said parents werenot allowed to wait for their children at schools as it could affect the children’s attention.
“We understand that sometimes parents can’t stand to watch their children cry, but the fact is that their children are in school and there are teachers who will take care of them,” he told Bernama.
Mohd Ghazali said the first day of school went smoothly with all 570 primary and secondary schools statewide reopening, despite a few of them being affected by the recent floods.
In Terengganu, a total of 21,115 Standard One pupils also began their primary education yesterday.
State Education Department Director Ariffin Embong said the first day of school in the state went without a hitch as early preparations had been taken.
When asked about Sekolah Kebangsaan Paya Bunga which registered only 15 Standard One pupils this year, Ariffin said the department was in the midst of restoring the image of the school, which is the oldest school in Terengganu.
Last year, the school only had 13 Standard One pupils.
Ariffin said the school’s location, in the town centre, was believed to be the reason for parents not sending their children there.
Schools in Kedah also reopened yesterday but in others states, they will reopen only today.
The scene was repeatedthroughout schools in Kedah with the state recording an enrolment of 37,621 Year One pupils.
State Education director Shahidan Abdul Rahman told Bernama that enrolment in Form One this year totalled 37,502 students. — Bernama