PAGE chairman Noor Azimah Rahim said there was a need to make up for learning time lost as a result of the movement control order (MCO).

She alleged that some teachers did not fulfil their obligation to conduct online classes scheduled for June, during which schools would, under normal circumstances, be closed for mid-term holidays.

“They still took their holidays even though they were way behind,” she told FMT.

She also said some teachers had not interacted with their students since March and had instead given their students online links to consult before submitting their homework assignments.

Some were not punctual for online lessons and some cancelled their classes at the last minute, she added.

“Sometimes a class scheduled for an hour lasts only five minutes,” she said. “Our children have been short-changed.”

Yesterday, the National Union of the Teaching Profession urged Putrajaya to maintain the original school calendar for this year, saying lessons had continued online throughout the MCO.

It pointed out that the end of the year was usually the flood season, which would see some schools being used as relief centres, thus interrupting classes.

Noor Azimah said the flood season should not stand in the way of lessons for students unaffected by it.

Students affected by floods could be provided with books and taught through enhanced online lessons and educational TV programmes, she added.

Melaka Action Group for Parents chairman Mak Chee Kin called for sacrifice from teachers, saying flexibility was needed during unprecedented times.

He agreed with Noor Azimah that online learning had not been satisfactory.

“I’m not saying all teachers weren’t working during the MCO,” he said. “I know some teachers who were very hardworking, diligent and did a lot during the MCO, but many did not.

He said the education ministry should stick with the decision to modify the school calendar.

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