Teachers union welcomes 8am timing but questions implementation in two session schools
NUR IFTITAH ROZLAN02 Feb 2023 11:43am
Schools starting at 8am can ensure the student's safety and comfortability while also ensuring adequate family time in the mornings - FILE PIC
The Western Malaysia Malay Teachers' Union (KGMMB) president Jasni Md Kechik said the union agreed to the suggestion but the ministry needs to look into how to implementing it according to the correct prodecures and guidelines.
He explained the changes will not be an issue for school with single sessions but he questioned on how the timing can fit for schools with two sessions.
"When there are two sessions, students in the afternoon session will return home later," he said to Sinar on Wednesday.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Education Diversity Study Center education expert Dr Anuar Ahmad had previously suggested school should start at 8am to celebrate the Malaysia Madani concept and the slogan 'Happy Students, Happy Teachers, One School and a Prosperous Nation'.
He said the government should sympathise and empathise with teachers, parents and children who were forced to wake up at 4.30am.
Jasni said setting the school's system at 8am has many benefits, especially to one-session schools in a densely populated cities where their caretaker has to face traffic jams.
He also added school starting at 8am can ensure the student's safety and comfort.
"Their caretaker no longer has to rush to send their children to school early. Sometimes, caretakers even have to leave and send them to school earlier," he said.
He explained when students arrived to school earlier, their safety implication needs to be considered even if there are security guards.
"If no untoward incidents happen then it's fine but we have to know if it happens.
"But (adjusting the time to 8am) will ease it for the caretakers because they don't have to send the kids to school earlier.
Jasni Md Kechik also added one benefit was to give time to caretakers, to prepare breakfast for their children before sending them to school.
"That is why the ministry needs to refine the proposal and look into the procedure to implement it, especially at schools with two sessions," he explained.
On the contrary, National Union of the Teaching Profession Malaysia (NUTP) disagree that schoole here should start 30 minutes later (8am).
Its president Aminuddin Awang said the proposal will only add to the teacher's burden by disrupting the school's timetable.
He said starting schools at 7.30am is reasonable and should not be changed to 8am.
Aminuddin stated parties involved must analyse the existing issue of why some teachers and students arrived earlier than the set time.
"Some schools make their own rules, instructing teachers and students to come as early as 7.15am due to various programmes," he said to Sinar on Wednesday.
Aminuddin hopes that schools can stick to the current time of 7.30am, so there will be no issues related to the proposal for school to start at 8am
"Additionally we also have to consider schools with two sessions (morning and afternoon). The implementation will, at some extent, affect the afternoon session timetable where teachers and students have to go home later," he added.
