KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 9 (Sin Chew Daily) — Deputy education minister Datuk Mah Hang Soon said even if the movement control order (MCO) were to be ended on April 14, the education ministry would not announce the reopening of schools nationwide on April 15 for the sake of students' safety.

He said during a telephone interview with Sin Chew Daily that the ministry would continue discussing with the relevant interested parties, including proposals from parents and educational organizations, that the students' safety should come before attending classes or taking examinations at school.

Mah said some had proposed to defer school reopening to as late as June. Some proposed that only students going to sit for SPM and STPM are required to go back to school, while others proposed that only teachers are allowed to go back to school in order to conduct online classes with students using equipment and network facilities of the school.

He said the ministry would take into consideration all proposals, including ways to minimize student gathering if schools reopen.

"We will also discuss with the health ministry and listen to their views on the solutions we currently have."

He also said the education ministry had not yet instructed schools to make preparations for reopening and that it would be good if the school authorities take their own initiative to prepare for school reopening.

However, he insisted that the ministry would not announce school reopening in a hurry.