PETALING JAYA: Parents’ groups have criticised Putrajaya for prioritising petty issues such as the colour of students’ shoes and socks over more fundamental matters about the education system, especially during the pandemic.
Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) chairman Noor Azimah Rahim said the education ministry should be looking at ways to ensure students can be provided with a safe environment in schools, particularly for those sitting for major exams.
“This issue (of the colour of shoes and socks) is too petty. Many other education issues need to be looked at and addressed, like how students can get to school safely during this time of pandemic.
“Form 5 and Form 6 students need to be provided a way to return to school as soon as possible,” she told FMT.
National Parent-Teacher Association chairman Mohamad Ali Hassan agreed that the colour rule for shoes and socks was a small matter, saying the ministry needed to resolve the issue of online learning first.
“This issue is too small and does not need further discussions. It’s up to parents to choose according to their own abilities.
“The problem that needs to be overcome as soon as possible is the completion of the syllabus and our preparedness to face major exams when the country is still recording Covid-19 cases,” he told FMT.
In April, Education Minister Radzi Jidin announced that the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM) exams will be postponed to the first quarter of 2021.
Meanwhile, the Year 6 Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) and PT3 (Form 3) examinations were cancelled.
In November, following the third wave of Covid-19 cases, Radzi announced that the SPM, STPM, STAM and SVM exams would be further postponed to late February.
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