Education Ministry to Review Home-Based Learning If Work-From-Home Policy Is Implemented
KOTA BHARU, March 14 — Malaysia’s Ministry of Education is assessing the possibility of reintroducing home-based teaching and learning if the government proceeds with plans to implement a work-from-home arrangement for civil servants.
Education director-general Datuk Mohd. Azam Ahmad said the ministry must carefully examine the implications before deciding whether the teaching and learning from home approach, commonly known as PdPR, should be activated again.
He explained that any changes affecting school operations must be carefully evaluated to ensure that students’ learning progress across the country is not disrupted.
“We will study the matter thoroughly and determine whether there is sufficient justification to implement PdPR should the work-from-home policy extend to the education sector,” he told reporters.
Mohd. Azam was speaking after attending the Kelantan-level KPM Jaulah Ramadan programme at the Pengkalan Chepa Vocational College.
According to him, the ministry’s main priority is to ensure that students continue receiving effective education regardless of any administrative adjustments introduced by the government.
He noted that discussions involving the ministry’s top leadership will be held next week to further examine the proposal.
The meeting is expected to involve Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Deputy Minister Wong Kah Woh, Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim and other senior officials.
The purpose of the discussion is to evaluate how the potential work-from-home arrangement may affect school operations and to determine whether alternative learning approaches may be necessary.
Mohd. Azam said the ministry must balance two key priorities — supporting the government’s broader policy objectives while ensuring the quality of education remains uncompromised.
One of the government’s goals, he noted, is to improve administrative efficiency and potentially reduce operational costs in certain sectors.
However, any policy involving schools must be carefully adapted to suit the realities of the education system.
The director-general also pointed out that Malaysia already has experience implementing PdPR during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That experience provided valuable lessons regarding the challenges and benefits of remote learning.
He said those insights could help the ministry refine its approach if home-based learning becomes necessary again.
“We learned many lessons from the pandemic period, and those experiences can guide us in improving the effectiveness of remote learning if it needs to be reintroduced,” he said.
Mohd. Azam stressed that the ministry remains committed to carrying out government policies as required but emphasised that decisions affecting schools must always prioritise students’ educational needs.
Ultimately, he said, any decision regarding PdPR will be made with careful consideration of its impact on students, teachers and the overall education system.
-wilayah.com.my
