Nonadiah Abdullah, deputy chairman of the Private Education Entrepreneur Association Malaysia (PEEAM), said the biggest challenge that online learning had brought was ensuring that virtual lessons were effective.

She said schools usually had a more stimulating environment with educational materials available, adding that online classes needed to be mixed with offline learning in order for students to remain engaged.

“With the online learning trend set to continue, all schools must be prepared. We must have digital readiness at all times. We should also embrace what they call blended learning.

“Online learning cannot replace conventional schooling. But as I’ve said, we have to standby for online learning. If we have to implement it within 24 hours, we have to be ready to do so,” she said in an online forum at the Virtual Education Expo 2021.

Nurul Aliah Mustafa, deputy dean of City Graduate School at City University Malaysia, said teachers and parents need to find the best alternative to online lessons in this time, emphasising the need for offsite learning to ensure kids are able to learn effectively.

She said the amount of time students spend on devices for school needed to be reduced as they should be moving about more, adding that teachers can provide pupils with material that they can work on their own.

Nurul added that teachers could also resort to communicating with students via text messages and calls while conducting interactive video sessions that were “short and sweet”.

“Online learning needs to be aided by off-site, offline, blended and remote learning. Online classes are just one of the platforms but the others are very helpful,” she said.

She recommended that parents draw up a daily schedule for their kids that would prevent them from sitting still for hours on end, saying children needed time for movement and rest.

She also said teachers could give kids the “authority” to give suggestions for class activities, as this would excite them and help draw their interest in the lessons.

“Social emotional development also needs to be stressed as much as other aspects of educational development. Emotions are a fundamental thing for humans. Parents and teachers need to know about student emotions; don’t just start the class.

“Without parents’ involvement, online learning will be less effective and could yield more negative effects than positive. Whether they want to or not, they need to slot some time in because they have a role to play.”