As a very concerned parent, I wish to highlight the sudden change in the secondary schools’ time-table which extends classes for the Arts stream from 7.30 am to 3.40 pm and from 7.30 am to 3 pm for the Science stream.

I was terribly shocked to know of these long schooling hours suddenly implemented in some schools in Selangor.

If one is rational, one would know that having to wake up early in the morning to go school and coming back late in the evening would totally exhaust a student's mind.

When I was in Form Six 35 years ago, the hours weren't that long - only from 7.30am to 1 pm at the latest and yet we were able to pass our exams, graduate with a Bachelor’s degree and so forth.

I also got information that this move to extend school hours was to further equip students with better skills when they get admitted into university. But what is the rational of implementing this?

The official schooling hours from 7.30 am to 1 pm are already sufficient as that was what we had for many years. So why is the education ministry implementing longer sessions now?

Does that means that your existing time-table which has been implemented has not been effective. If it is so, where did we go wrong?

Does implementing longer school hours mean guarantee better future university students? Why should students be blamed for any failures in the education system?

Why did the ministry implement something without getting parental advice or consensus? I am sure the teachers who have to slog longer hours and extra overtime will have to be paid. Is this kind of system rational ?

As a highly-educated parent, I sincerely hope the Education Ministry will reconsider its move and seek advice or general opinions. This arbitrary move caught us parents of students affected by this sudden change in school schedule off-guard.