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PETALING JAYA: As more Covid-19 cases are reported, higher education institutions have been asked to register online for the new semester.
The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) said that all teaching and learning activities should also be moved to online platforms to keep staff and students safe.
“MoHE recommends that all institutions of higher education postpone the physical registration of new and old students on campus,” he said in a statement yesterday.
This follows an earlier announcement by his minister Datuk Dr. Noraini Ahmad that only students from the red zones would not be able to register face-to-face at their institutions.
“For students who have been on campus and started academic activities, they can remain on their respective campuses,” he said.
MoHE added that institutions should postpone all activities that involve mass gatherings and offer assistance to students already on campus.
The ministry said it was working together with airlines to find a solution for students who already bought their tickets to return to campus.
They have agreed to allow affected students to reschedule their flights until December 31.
“MoHE is very concerned about the views expressed by students, parents, and the community with the increase in Covid-19 cases occurring just days before the admission date of new students.
“All parties must safeguard the well-being and well-being of students and the community when facing the Covid-19 pandemic,” the ministry said.
New students from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) heading to campus to register were allowed to continue their trip or postpone their trip, and return to campus on a new date to be announced later, the university said in a post by Facebook on Thursday night.
Existing students, however, had to postpone their trip and could only register online.
An official from USM’s Division of Development Affairs said new students had the option of registering on campus and then returning home or staying while they awaited more information.
They were allowed to leave their belongings and register, or to leave their belongings and go home.
“USM students also have a car registration option,” said their vice chancellor (Student and Alumni Development), Dr. Aldrin Abdullah.
This would include a health screening, MyDaftar registration, and a short briefing on learning and registering online and the process for submitting your items to the hostel.
Universiti Malaya canceled its face-to-face registration, which was scheduled to start today.
His Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs), Dr. Abdul Aziz Abdul Raman, urged students to postpone their trip and register online for the new semester.
He said that students who were already on campus and started their academic activities do not need to leave.
“The university will continue to monitor the development of the Covid-19 pandemic and the latest instructions from the relevant authorities, and will make further announcements from time to time,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak said that due to instructions from the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee to strengthen the movement of Sarawak residents and non-residents in the state, the semi-annual online registration would be conducted.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia also canceled the physical search scheduled for today and tomorrow.
Registration for everyone, he said, would now be online.
Meanwhile, the president of the Association of Private Colleges and Universities of Malaysia, Datuk Dr. Parmjit Singh, said that the announcement of the ministry did not affect the private institutions of higher education.
He said this was because most of his intakes took place at the beginning of the year with a few exceptions.
He said the ministry had asked the institutions to teach classes with limited students.
Parmjit praised the ministry for acting swiftly to help stop the spread of the virus, adding that safety must be the top priority.
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