Sibu Express Boat Terminal may see surge in passenger volume ahead of school reopening

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A woman and her two young daughters among a group of passengers arriving at Sibu Express Boat Terminal.

SIBU: The Sibu Express Boat Terminal can expect to handle dozens of passengers in the coming days ahead of reopening of schools this July 15.

An observation at the terminal yesterday saw many parents with their children disembarking from the express boats that had arrived from Kapit.

For John Edward, whose only son is studying at SK Sibu Jaya, it would be better for them to return to town earlier so as to avoid the anticipated congestion in days approaching July 15.

“I believe there will be more people returning soon. I think the children have been on a break for ‘too long’ – it’s time for them to get back to their classrooms.

“I believe they would be alright, because the schools would have definitely already implemented strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) by now,” he told The Borneo Post here.

Fellow parent, Henry Andy prayed that everything would be alright, saying he was still feeling apprehensive about letting his two children go back to school amidst the current Covid-19 pandemic.

“With the implementation of the SOP, I just pray that my two kids and the rest of the school-children would be alright and are ready to comply with all the requirements,” said the father of two boys – one in Primary 3 and the other in Primary 5 at SK Sibu Bandaran No 3.

On July 1, Senior Minister (Education) Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin announced that students of Form 6 Semester I, Form 1 to 4, those in Remove Class students, as well as Primary 5 and 6 pupils, would be allowed to return to school starting this July 15; while children attending Primary 1 to 4 would return the following week, on July 22.

“The reopening dates apply to all government schools, government-aided schools, private schools and educational institutions registered with the Education Ministry.

“Schools not registered with the ministry are also encouraged to follow the dates set,” said the federal minister during a live broadcast then.