Maszlee said that while the end-of-the-year break is usually for three weeks, it is typical practice to recall teachers a week early to prepare for students’ return, adding that he had received feedback from a number of teachers supportive of the additional week off.

The extra leave will allow teachers to capitalise on the reopening of state borders and visit their hometowns before classes resume, and would also give them more time to self-quarantine should they need to do so in preparation for classes.

“This will ensure that our teachers are truly ready to work and to safeguard their health, not only their physical health but also their mental health,” he said in a statement today.

Maszlee said the proposal also takes into account the extension of the 2021 school term until next February, announced by Radzi last month as a way to give schools more time to assess their pupil’s readiness to progress to their next grade.