Schools

LANGKAWI: Students from Year One to Year Three return to their respective schools on Sunday (Oct 17) after months of home-based learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With physical lessons being allowed again in light of the downward trend in Covid-19 cases, students were ecstatic to be able to meet their teachers and friends again. Nine-year-old Arissa Hayfa Muhammad Norazam from Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Matsirat, who is in Year Three, was happy to be back in school. "I have been waiting for this day for months. It is a feeling that I can't really describe to see my teachers and friends again face-to-face," she said. Arissa's schoolmate Aidi Wajdi Muhammad Farizi, eight, said he was eager to start learning his most favourite subject, which was English, in a physical classroom. "It is much easier to learn during physical class compared to online, I am glad we were able to go back to school like before," he said. A check by The Star at the school saw pupils, accompanied by ... » Learn More about Students glad to be back in school after months of home learning

LANGKAWI: Parents on the resort island here are glad that their children will return to school today after months away due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Hotel worker Rosmizi Mutat, 43, is relieved that his daughter Nur Damia Qistina, eight, will be able to attend face-to-face lessons. “It’s time for her to catch up with the syllabus in a conducive environment,” he said when met at his house in Kampung Keda Wang Tok Rendong. Rosmizi has three other daughters, two of them aged 13 and 14, who will also go back to school at the end of the month. Nur Damia Qistina is excited to go to school after attending online lessons for some time. “I can’t wait to go to school to meet my friends and teachers,” she said. Another parent, Nor Izatun Ibrahim, 33, lauded the government’s decision to allow physical lessons in light of a downward trend in Covid-19 cases. “I believe the standard operating procedure will be in place at schools, although I am still worried that my children could ... » Learn More about Langkawi folk happy with school reopening

LABUAN (Bernama): Covid-19 vaccination for school-going children in this duty-free island here is nearing completion, with over 68% having completed the second dose. Labuan Health Department director Dr Ismuni Bohari said the vaccination exercise for students aged 16 and 17 was completed last week, but over 30% of adolescents aged 12 to 15, have yet to complete inoculation. "Parents must ensure that their children complete the vaccination as once the vaccine administering centres (PPV) are closed, the vaccination will have to be done via appointment at government or private clinics,” he said. He said that 86.05% of the total 10,094 students (aged 12-17) have received at least one dose of vaccine, and of the number, 68.25% completed the second dose as of Oct 16. Meanwhile, in an engagement programme organised by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in collaboration with the Information Department and the media fraternity today, pupils aged 12 started to receive the second dose at SK ... » Learn More about Parents, pupils glad vaccination for adolescents almost completed in Labuan

News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Manila, Philippines   ● Tue, October 29, 2019 2019-10-29 09:59 719 43c48a2ddad3c738da9daa2a5145b816 2 SE Asia #Philippines,#earthquake,injury,damage Free A 6.6-magnitude quake struck the southern Philippines Tuesday, authorities said, causing injuries and damaging buildings in a region still reeling from a previous deadly tremor. Terrified locals fled into the streets after the shallow quake, which the US Geological Survey said hit the island of Mindanao as schools and offices opened for the day. USGS initially reported the quake had a magnitude of 6.8, adding there was no tsunami threat. "Our municipal hall has been destroyed," said Reuel Limbungan, mayor of Tulunan, a town near the epicentre. "We are receiving lots of reports of injuries, but we have to confirm them," he told AFP. The area is still suffering the effects of a 6.4-magnitude quake that hit less than two weeks ago, killing at least five and damaging ... » Learn More about Strong quake hits south Philippines, injuries reported

Fulya Ozerkan and Ahmad Parhizi (Agence France-Presse) Istanbul, Turkey/ Tehran, Iran   ● Sun, February 23, 2020 2020-02-23 23:11 601 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206620ed3 2 World #Iran,#earthquake,death-toll,injury,Turkey Free A magnitude 5.7 earthquake in northwestern Iran on Sunday killed at least nine people in neighbouring Turkey and injured dozens more on both sides of the border, authorities said. The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 9:23 am (0553 GMT), was near the Iranian village of Habash-e Olya, less than 10 kilometres (six miles) from the border, according to the US Geological Survey. The earthquake had a depth of six kilometres, said Tehran University's Seismological Centre. In Turkey, it was felt mostly in the eastern district of Baskale in Van province on the Iran border. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said nine people were killed, speaking to reporters from the quake scene in Van. Four of the dead were children. "We have right ... » Learn More about Quake in Iran kills nine in neighbouring Turkey